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Ah, Everdell! A realm where whimsy and strategy intertwine beneath the grand Ever Tree. I’ve guided many a critter clan to glory in this enchantingtabletop game. In this article, I’ll be walking you through how to play Everdell, exploring the gameplay, setup, and strategies that make every session a delightful adventure.
Everdell: Collector’s Edition
Everdell is an adorable animal-themed tabletop game that sees players control workers and settle new territories.
1 to 4 players
40 minutes
Complexity
Medium
Thisengine-building game’s goal is to build the most prosperous city by accumulating points. It’s designed for 1 to 4 players, so whether you’re looking for asolo challengeor a group activity, Everdell’s got you covered.
Setting Up Our Everdell Adventure
When playing Everdell, the first thing you need to learn is setup. Now, don’t worry—the process is pretty straightforward. You can complete everything in six steps:
Everdell Gameplay: What’s Your Move?
Each turn you take in Everdell is a step in crafting your unique story. You have three critical actions to choose from:
These shape your strategy and city. Let’s take a closer look at each action:
1. Place a Worker
Place a workeris the first action that moves the game forward. You can make the most out of this action by performing the following:
Choosing the Best Locations
2. Play a Card
Now that your workers are in place, it’s time to start building your city! You can do that by performing this next action -Play a Card.
3. Prepare for Season
Everdell’s gameplay is divided into four seasons:
Autumn is your final chance to maximize your city’s potential and score points.
Transitioning Between Seasons
The “Prepare for Season” action is how you transition from one season to the next. This action has a few key components:
Strategic Implications
Each season in Everdell is not just a thematic element but plays a vital role in shaping your strategy. Knowing when to transition to the next season is a critical decision. Moving too quickly might leave you with unutilized resources or actions, while delaying too long could mean missing out on opportunities in the next season. Balancing the timing of your “Prepare for Season” action with your overall strategy is key to building the most prosperous city in Everdell.
The Game’s End: Scoring And Victory
As the game winds down, players will pass when they can’t or choose not to perform any more actions. The game ends when all players have passed. Scoring involves tallying points from various sources:
The player with the highest score is declared the winner of Everdell. In case of a tie, the player with the most achieved Events wins. If still tied, leftover resources break the stalemate.
FAQ About Everdell
Can I move back to a previous season once I’ve progressed to the next one?
No, you cannot move back to a previous season in Everdell. The game’s progression is linear, moving forward from Winter to Spring, then Summer, and finally Autumn. Once you’ve transitioned to a new season, all actions and opportunities of the past season are no longer available. This forward progression is a key strategic element of the game, requiring players to plan their actions and resource management carefully.
What happens if I run out of space in my city for new cards?
If you reach the limit of 15 cards in your city and want to play another card, you must make a choice. You can either forego playing new cards, or you can replace one of the existing cards in your city. When replacing a card, the old card is typically placed in the discard pile. It’s important to strategically plan which cards to play and when, as each card occupies valuable space in your city and contributes to your overall strategy and point tally.
How do I win in Everdell, and what’s the best strategy?
Winning Everdell is about accumulating the highest number of points by the end of the game. Points are earned from the cards in your city, completed Events, Journey points, and any bonuses from Purple Prosperity cards. As for strategy, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, successful players often balance resource collection, timely card play, and efficient use of workers. Adapting your strategy based on the available cards, your opponents' actions, and the current season is crucial. It’s also important to keep an eye on end-game scoring opportunities, such as completing high-value Events and maximizing Purple Prosperity card bonuses.
