In the magical setting of Godsforge, Etherium (not the cryptocurrency) was plentiful, and the land was at peace. Children created charms with it, and spells were bountiful. However, its presence has dwindled, and wild sorcerers battle over the last remaining place this resource can be collected, The Godsforge.
Godsforge is a fast paced, simultaneous action, dice and card game designed by Brenden Stern with beautiful artwork by Diego Rodriguez, and released by Atlas Games.
The game pieces are high quality.
This game pits 1 to 4 players against each other other control of the Godsforge, which is the primary place for collecting Etherium, a magical resource that can power spells, creatures and other effects which take place during the game.
The setting and artwork of the game are both so cool and intriguing, but the initial setup and understanding the rules takes longer than an actual game, leading to a fun yet complicated experience. Let’s dive in.
Upon opening the box, you are greeted with a rule book, a game board, 4 sets of dice, markers, a set of cards, and “Etherium” gems. Everything is beautifully designed, and the insert for the box intelligently has made room for the two expansions (which I’ll cover in a later review), so the game packs up tightly, and feels great.
Every card has been meticulously designed.
The art direction and world of Godforge is incredible. The cards are split into two categories, Creations and Spells, and both are richly designed and distinct. My table kept catching themselves enjoying the incredible details of the artwork, which pulled us further into the world. At one point, we shared a sentiment that we’d love to see more about the world around Godsforge, because it is so intriguing and beautiful.
Once you understand the rules and flow of the game, the gameplay is fast and fun. There are 4 phases which make up a round, and players of card games will easily understand: Upkeep, Forge Rolls, Reveal, Attack. These phases can be simplified into a discard/draw phase, a resource gathering & card choice phase, a pay phase, and finally the resolution phase.
The illustrations are gorgeous, and fit right in the world.
However, this is where some criticism comes into the game. The rule book is very detailed, and while there are reference cards for the players, it did take a good deal of time to read through the rules. Understanding the symbols and meanings of the cards, and even the layout of the dice caused some initial confusion with some of the players. For example, the numbers on the dice correspond to elements (such as fire, water, wind), but for decorative purposes only. These small decorations caused a lot of confusion until we understood that only the numbers on the dice were important. For some players, this might be frustrating, for us, it was a minor inconvenience.
Once you understand the system, gameplay goes by very quickly. Players can easily amass powerful creatures, augment them with spells or Veilstones (which are a currency acquired through dice rolls), and brutally attack each other. I was reminded of playing CCGs that rely on building a massive force and utilizing combos in order to deal and reduce damage. When a player dies, a new mechanic kicks in, where the other players take damage each turn, bringing a swift end to the game. Initially, we thought this was an unusual choice, but upon further testing, we realized that it allows games to wrap up quickly, so that no one is left out. And because of this mechanic, we were incentivized to make riskier decisions with our cards, resulting in last second wins or complete shifts in tactics.
The amount and variety of cards keep combat fresh, always changing tactics, and lines up surprises, which kept us engaged. Games lasted between 15-30 minutes, though the box claims 20-40, which I can totally see depending on the size of your group.
If I had any recommendations for the creators of the game, it would be to rewrite the rules so that they make more sense to players not accustomed to CCG mechanics, and clarify what’s important, and what is decoration.
If you choose to play Godsforge, do yourself a favor and become intimate with the rules. If you know everything when you pull this game out on the table, you can easily get this running while your inexperienced players are enamored with the artwork. And then, have a blast, because it’ll be fast.
Randy is a designer, nerd, and mini painter. He's been painting since 2015, and has learned a lot in his time! Come with him as he continues to push his craft forward, always down to try new techniques, tools, and paints!
Godforge is a fast paced, fun game, even if the rules are a little awkward to wrap your head around at first. Great action, beautiful artwork, and easy to play again and again.
PROS
- Beautiful artwork will put you right in the setting
- Fast paced combat means multiple games can be played in a night
- Once you get the rules, it’s very fun to play & think through
- Box design is awesome and ready for expansions
CONS
- The artwork can get in the way of the rules, causing confusion
- Some mechanics may seem unfair to certain players
- Decent amount of math
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