Have you tried The Search for Planet X or The Search for Lost Species? Both games play 1-4 players, have an accompaniment app, and are deduction games published by Renegade Game Studios. The Search for Plant X was published in 2020 and it is based on space. The Search for Lost Species is based on Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and it was published in 2023.
The premise of both games is very similar, you are looking for hidden objects; however, both games have enough attributes to provide distinct experiences.
Theme
The Search for Planet X is a space-themed game where players are searching for a mysterious planet that has been hiding beyond the reach of our telescopes.
The Search for Lost Species is an island adventure where players are searching for species that have been thought to be extinct.
Gameplay
Both games use an accompanying app.
The Search for Planet X:
– Is simpler and more straightforward.
– Players use a combination of deduction and action to narrow down the possible locations of Planet X.
– They can also use a special research action to gain more information about specific sectors of space.
The Search for Lost Species:
– Players use a combination of deduction and movement to narrow down the possible habitats of the lost species.
– They can also use a special expedition action to search a specific habitat for a lost species.
– Incorporates cards that make the game asymmetric and provide more variability, as there are different species of animals that you can be searching for.
My thoughts
The Search for Planet X offers a straightforward experience in terms of game design and iconography. On the other hand, The Search for Lost Species provides more possibilities; it is abstract and incorporates cards into the game. In Lost Species, I find that knowing where you are sitting and aligning your board correctly is more crucial than in Planet X. The board is a bit busier, and the colors are not very forgiving to color-blind individuals. Lost Species introduces more variability, and the need to move more elements around the table makes the game feel more immersive.
I believe that if you already have Planet X, adding Lost Species to your collection doesn’t significantly enhance the experience. However, if you plan to play one of the games the most and desire greater variability, Lost Species may be the game for you. The app is aesthetically pleasing. The concept of solving for a different animal each time adds engagement to the game; nevertheless, my preference leans towards Planet X.
Planet X is easier to teach, cleaner, and enables better planning as you only have six sectors to consider per turn. Lost Species adds more complexity that, in my opinion, doesn’t contribute enough to the game to justify its inclusion in my collection.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the decision between The Search for Planet X and The Search for Lost Species depends on individual preferences. While The Search for Planet X is cleaner and easier to teach, The Search for Lost Species introduces more complexity and variability, making it an engaging choice for those seeking a more intricate gameplay experience. Ultimately, whether to add Lost Species to your collection depends on your appetite for added complexity and desire for more immersive gameplay. Both games offer unique qualities, catering to different tastes within the deduction game genre. Are you more inclined to space or islands? Do you like asymmetric games or more straight forward ones? Those two answers may help you decide.
About the Author:
Coty is an avid reader, board gamer, reviewer, and playtester who enjoys everything from fine-tuning rulebooks (even in Spanish!) to designing 3D print upgrades. Follow her on Instagram. More thoughts and favorites are shared at KaCo
Plays.
