Short answer: no, not in our house.
Longer explanation:
When Scythe appeared in the BGG "hotness" about 2 years ago, I was a bit intrigued. There wasn't a lot of information on the game, but the art was quite nice. I'm also a huge fan of Stonemaier Games because of Jamey's professionalism, the company's dedication to quality and because Viticulture is a game that I adore. To be honest, when Scythe was on Kickstarter, I was interested but mostly in the art and components. However, in the last year, I've become more and more interested in the actual game. I was itching to get my copy in and give it a go. The fact that it was supposed to play well with 2 made me even more excited about trying it out. I got my copy this week and I've played it twice. What did I think?
I think Scythe is a well-balanced game. The playtesting is evident and it's clearly not some glorified prototype. It's also BEAUTIFUL. The components are gorgeous, minus the boring action piece--which incidentally is the piece you use the most during gameplay. The art is well done and the colors are divine. As soon as I opened the box, I was in love. I'm all about pimping my games, sometimes with Jamey's bits , and its extremely satisfying to open a box and know that you don't need anything else. It's all there--factory pimped. Next, I read the rulebook (which is also very well done), setup the game and embarked on a new gaming adventure with my wife.
So what happened? If I'm such a fan of the publisher/designer and love the bits, then how was this game not a lock? It's simply because this game is a bore. The gameplay fell completely flat. Admittedly, the first game is somewhat of a write-off. You have to learn the balance and timing of the game, and its hard to really excel at either of those during your first playthrough. After that first game, I told my wife that either we need to play it again or we need to get rid of it. You see, I'm perfectly okay with playing a game once, and if I like it, I can shelve it for later plays. Essentially, that game is considered "safe" and well-liked. There are many games, however, that require a second play. That second play is typically focused on one of four things. 386
That is, either the game is broken, it's so fantastic that I have to play it again right away, it's not good with 2 (and needs some variant) or we just didn't enjoy it and hope to enjoy it more the second time. Scythe fell into the last category. Our reaction was essentially "meh, that's it?"
After that first play, I got on BGG and did some research. I was trying to understand why people enjoyed this game so much. I enjoy research anyway, except when it leads to spending money . I read reviews, I read up on some basic strategy, session reports, you name it. I was convinced that I was missing something. After reading SO MUCH positive feedback about the game, I was determined to play it again. This time, I would play tight and clean. I would get my engine producing quickly and above all, focus on timing.
So how did it go? The problem was that I just wasn't having fun. Here's these great pieces sprawled out all over the board, art that oozes with theme, combat, exploration, etc., but the whole time it just felt soulless. Despite all that effort and all that chrome, Scythe just didn't seem to have any character. It was simply an efficiency game, bland and uninspired. I don't have anything against efficiency games. What's Your Game, a well-known publisher of medium-heavy weight eurogames, has produced some games that I really enjoy (e.g. Vihnos, Signorie, Vasco da Gama and Madiera). I don't need a lot of theme, and I enjoy games that focus on efficiency and balance. Scythe, however, seems a bit disingenuous. When I go to play Vasco da Gama, I don't expect to smell the ocean or feel the wind in my hair. I don't even expect to remember what the theme is halfway through the game, and that's okay. But with Scythe, you expect something different. You have this gorgeous package that ostensibly tells a story, has tremendous character and produces excitement. But what you really have is a gorgeous veneer over a lackluster game. And I hate to say that, because I know that this was a labor of love by a designer that I respect. But that's how I feel.
So how do I grade Scythe overall:
Art: 9 out of 10--absolutely beautiful! 386