Rival Realms, Game Review

The fog lifts and you gaze out over a field in the lands of Fantastiqa. The other magician you were working with is nowhere in sight. You know they are here and a race has begun. There is much to see and great treasures to find, but your time is short and the land is tricky. You lower your sights to what is closer around you and see a flash of brilliant green when the sunlight glints off an emerald. You pick it up, knowing it will be handy later. Again, you scan the land as it seems to materialize around you. Yes, your time here is short and you need to plan how you’re going to explore this land before it runs out.

-----

Rival Realms is a wonderful puzzle game for two people set in the world of Fantastiqa, created by Alf Seegert. I was given a copy of Rival Realms by the publisher, Eagle Gryphon Games (website) at SaltCon 2018 (website) for review purposes.

Fans of Fantastiqa, also created by Alf Seegert, will enjoy Rival Realms. But, Fantastiqa is not required for playing Rival Realms. This is not an expansion, even though it has a similar look, setting, and style.

This is a standalone game designed for one or two people. I think it works better with two (I prefer playing games with others instead of by myself). Even though you are playing against the other player, your play is focused on what you’re doing, not on how to block or disrupt your opponent’s play.

Game Design

Rival Realms pits two players against each other to create and solve a puzzle. The players start out with a mirror reflection of the mountains and valleys separating three kingdoms. Players then place region cards to create a puzzle map they solve by exploring through the areas on their side of the table.

This two level puzzle, creating and solving, makes for a great thinking game. The placement of regions has a strategic level because you have to have the right cards to explore them. As you build a path for yourself to explore the realm, there are limitations of what you can do, and items that can help you explore more. A balance is needed to be effective between the placing of the region cards and exploring them.

Rival Realms is easy to set up and play. We quickly understood how the game played. The first game lasted the 20–30 minutes it is designed for.

Rival Realms is a light-hearted competition as there are only limited ways you can disrupt the other player. The limited level of conflict makes Rival Realms a good game for many siblings.

Rival Realms is a good game to have on hand as a cabin game and a possible filler game. The box is just a little larger than the size of two packs of standard playing cards, making it easily transportable. The only problem as a filler game is when you have more than two people waiting.

Overall

I, and the others who played, enjoyed Rival Realms. The creation and exploring of the map was a nice application of the mechanic without having direct competition with the other player (you create a puzzle for your opponent to solve).

The artwork is some wonderful work from the Bridgeman Art Library which adds to the feel of the story being created.

Rival Realms, by Alf Seegert and published by Eagle Gryphon Games, is designed for 1 or 2 players ages 10+, and to last 20–30 minutes.

Rival Realms is available on Amazon (link).

-----

You’ve explored a lot of the land. The experience lifted your soul and you know this enchanted land holds many more secrets. As you step out on the edge of a high plateau to look at the path you want to take to continue your adventure, a fog rises around you. It was the fog that transported you to Fantastiqa. Time is up. You know your rival has completed their adventuring and you are going home. But now you know the card trick that brought the two of you here and you will be back.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter (@GuildMstrGmng).