Clans of Midgard from Grey Fox Games is another game sent to me by the publisher and set in the same fantasy viking universe as their previous games. My opinions are my own, but this review copy was free.
Clans of Midgard is a enjoyable mix of strategic drafting and thematic immersion that captures the spirit of Viking adventure. As a clan leader seeking glory, you'll navigate a path to victory through tactical card drafting. The game plays in about 30 minutes for 2-4 players.
The core drafting mechanic is simple yet engaging. Each round, you'll choose one card from your hand and pass the rest along, creating a dynamic push-and-pull as you balance your own needs with what you leave for your opponents. This creates a sense of anticipation and excitement as you reveal your choices and strategize your next move. My favorite player count for the game ended up being three because we were able to often draft what we wanted, but also had an unknown of 4 cards left out in each of the 4 rounds.
Each round starts with revealing a god who may be won to your side for the game by drafting the most cards with offerings. The draft then begins, but you are looking for several symbols like monsters, clans, and runes. After all of the cards are drafted, the players resolve each of their symbols in the same order. Based on which clan you drafted the most of, you will be able to place warriors in Midgard and potentially have a battle in a region at the end of the round by reaching a threshold capacity. The unexpected swings in these battles were also satisfying as we simultaneously competed for regions while sometimes just wanting our warriors to die so we could gain points in Valhalla.
The game offers multiple paths to victory, allowing for diverse playstyles and strategic depth. Whether you focus on dominating combat, exploring the board, collecting powerful runes, or a combination of approaches, there's always a way to tailor your strategy to your preferences.
The Viking theme is duly integrated into all aspects of the game. It's one of the lighter games in the series, but Clans didn't overstay its welcome.
Clans of Midgard strikes a balance between accessibility and strategic depth. The rules are easy to learn, making it suitable for somewhat casual gamers and families. The drafting might throw a loop for new gamers though as there is a healthy amount of information on your first play-through. Which puts it in an odd gaming space because its not really a game that will appeal to more seasoned gamers.
I usually don't care about components a whole lot, but I did see the nicer meeples from the crowd-funding campaign and they definitely look cooler than the cubes. The game plays the same though.
Clans of Midgard will appeal to those desiring a low to medium complexity time filler game with a viking theme. The drafting mechanic will appeal to those who want to rely on this aspect of choice to win, while some people will be turned off by it. Those who need a lot of replayability of strategic depth will likely avoid the game and pick another longer title in Grey Fox's lineup.
I enjoyed the drafting mechanic, the take-that feel of denying other players cards without directly harming them, the easy going ties in the final resolution of each round, and the low rules overhead.
Clans of Midgard
Designed by Alara Cameron & Travis R. Chance
Published by Grey Fox Games
Aesthetics 7/10
Strategy 6/10
Gameplay 7/10