I recently embarked on an adventure at club with Explorers of Navoria, a new board game that promised a nice blend of exploration, strategy, and cuteness. I didn’t pick the game up for myself, but a friend brought it along and we gave it a try. Today, I’m sharing a few initial impressions of that game, having only played it the once.
Explorers of Navoria takes players to a richly illustrated fantasy world, where they take on the roles of adventurers seeking to uncover the secrets and treasures of the ancient land of Navoria.
The game is designed for 2-5 players and combines elements of resource management and card drafting. Players explore different regions of Navoria, gathering resources, completing quests, and battling mythical creatures. Each action and decision is tied to the overarching narrative, creating a sense of immersion and continuity.
The first thing that struck me was the game’s beautiful artwork. The board, cards, and meeples are all beautifully designed, bringing the world of Navoria to life. There was also a lovely neoprene mat, but I’m not sure if that’s a standard part of the retail game, or just part of the Kickstarter pledge that the friend had backed.
The game’s mechanics offer some strategic choices. Balancing resource collection, quest completion, construction, and exploration requires thoughtful planning and adaptability. There are a lot of options to choose from, but each individual action is straightforward enough so as not to feel overwhelming.
I chose to double down on creature types, whereby you are rewarded for obtaining multiple cards of the same type. I secured first place with one type of creature and second with another, and then obtained cards that further rewarded me for these allegiances.
I did this at the cost of resource gathering and building, which ultimately cost me the game. The ability to complete quests/orders is really important and opens up opportunities to build on the map and get other rewards and bonuses. I utterly neglected this aspect of the game, but became more aware of how useful it would have been when we got to post-game scoring.
As with many modern strategy games, Explorers of Navoria has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s actually not too bad. The rulebook is comprehensive, but it might take a few sessions to fully grasp the nuances of every option and potential action in the game. However, once players are familiar with the mechanics, the game flows smoothly. Our turns flowed very well.
Explorers of Navoria feels like a fun game. I enjoyed myself, as did the rest of the group. The game comes across as quite simple, though in hindsight I was able to appreciate where I made mistakes or could have made better plays. The game combines this rich, immersive gameplay with beautiful production values to really produce a fantastic experience on your table. It’s perfect for players who enjoy lighter games and those who like a head-scratcher. It has range.
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