Tikal Board Game
Each player is the director of an expedition intent on exploring Tikal in search of the secret paths that lead to the temples and precious treasures that have remained hidden for over 1000 years. A player receives points during four scoring rounds for eac h recovered treasure and for each temple that he controls. But, both temples and treasures can change hands. The expedition that earns the most points exploring Tikal wins the game.”Germany’s Game of the Year is a brilliant production that fits its theme extraordinarily well.” – Games Magazine.
Theme : The game mechanics and the theme of exploration fit together very well.
Components : There is a lot in the box, the playing pieces are made of wood, tiles and treasure counters are made of thick card and the large game board is good quality. Illustrations and production throughout are excellent.
Attitude : This is quite a serious game that needs some thought, so there isn’t much humour. Tension : Tikal can get quite tense if there is competition for temples, especially towards the end of the game. And every time treasure is found their is always a rush to get there first. Complexity : The rules would take about 20 minutes to teach. Each player has a reference card which lists all the actions you can do during your turn. Once you have learnt these actions, the mechanics aren’t difficult. The recommended age is 10 and up, which is about right. Children 7 and up could play the game but may need some help. Strategy : Tikal comes with 2 sets of rules. Players can either draw tiles or bid for them in auctions. The auction version of the game reduces the luck involved in getting good or bad tiles. In either case the of strategy involved to play well is significant. Education : This is an excellent thinking game. It also requires basic math skills in scoring your points. If you are looking for educational activities for young students studying ancient civilizations, archeology and excavation, Tikal would be a fun and interesting introduction. Number of Players : Tikal plays well with 2, 3 and 4 players. It’s optimum depends on your personal preference. Two player games tend to be easier with each player developing their own areas while a game with 4 players will be a lot more competitive. Conflict : There’s no direct conflict, and you can’t attack other players. But you can take over their temples and force a swap of treasures.
