Mercurial: Spellbinding Card Play
If you’re a fan of the elegant mechanics and engaging strategy of Century: Spice Road but crave a more advanced challenge with layered decision-making, Mercurial might just be your next board game obsession. We’ve been completely captivated by this spellbinding title, and it’s not hard to see why.
At its core, Mercurial shares some of Century: Spice Road's hallmark engine-building mechanics, but it dials the complexity up a notch (or three). The game immerses players in a world of magic and strategy, where the goal is to harness dice and mana to craft potent spells, acquire powerful cards, and outmanoeuvre your opponents in pursuit of victory.
Players choose their player board during game set up. Each player will start with slightly different resources. During our games we didn’t notice an advantage or disadvantage presenting itself, it was just another way to enjoy the game’s replayability.
The heart of Mercurial lies in its dice-based economy. At the beginning of each game, players roll a set of custom dice featuring symbols like Earth, Wind, Fire, and Lightning. Once you've cast your spells, you'll get your dice back and roll again. The symbols on your dice are the lifeblood of the game, representing the elemental resources you’ll need to pay for cards and craft your winning strategy. There are quite a few icons to get used to during your first game but there is a player aid for each player to keep by their player board, which is wonderfully laid out and quick and easy to glance at.
Mana (blue crystals) adds an additional layer of resource management. By combining dice rolls with mana, you can purchase cards that either amplify your abilities or unlock new strategies. The magical setting and stunning artwork make Mercurial a feast for the imagination, evoking the feeling of crafting intricate magical spells.
Mercurial provides a wide variety of choices to players. The interplay between dice, mana, and card acquisition creates a dynamic and rewarding decision space; every turn is an exercise in careful planning and resource optimization. The variety of cards and the unpredictability of dice rolls create endless replayability, and you will certainly get this to the table frequently.
We played the Deluxe Edition, and the game components are high quality and really add to the experience. This game does have a solo mode, but we’ve not yet played this.
Final Thoughts
Mercurial is a masterclass in modern board game design, combining familiar mechanics with innovative twists to create something truly special. If you’re looking for a game that challenges your strategic thinking and rewards careful planning, this one deserves a spot on your shelf. This was bought for someone who is a big fan of Century Spice Road. While the game offers more choices and deeper complexity than Century: Spice Road, the mechanics are intuitive enough for experienced gamers to grasp quickly.
Order your copy of Mercurial now
1-4 players
Ages 14+
45-90 minutes (Our games, with 3 players, lasted around 90 minutes. Allow a little extra tie for your first play through.)
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