After a long and arduous journey through the forest glades, you emerge from the shadows of ancient trees whose thick roots seem to whisper stories of old. Dappled light has touched your face every step of the journey. Now, something new lies ahead…
A clearing, an open field, a meadow of discovery. This is where your new adventure starts. Who will join you to build this new life, only time will tell. You plans are great; make a city where all want to reside. But first, you must gather resources, for winter approaches and the city of Everdell must be built.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Everdell which, since its release, has captured the imagination of the gaming community. James A. Wilson and artwork by Andrew Bosley have created a beloved an engaging universe with so much to explore. This time James alongside his wife (his favourite playing partner) have recreated the world of Everdell exclusively for 2 people, a cosier and smaller experience, but with all that woodland charm.
How Everdell Duo is Played
Everdell Duo is a worker placement game played over four seasons, where the goal is to build the most prestigious city. Players alternate turns as either the Rabbit or the Tortoise, using their three meeples each season at six locations (four fixed, two refreshing River spots) to gather resources. These resources are used to play a unique deck of 80 Building and Critter cards.
A new, central mechanic involves the Sun and Moon tokens, which act as the turn counter for each season. Players can only play cards from The Meadow that are currently touching one of these tokens. This system creates tight timing decisions, allows for direct player interaction to block desired cards, and provides a clear timeline for the gameplay. The game’s high replayability is ensured by the unique card deck and randomized Events that offer bonus points and direction.
From Small Beginnings to Sprawling Cities
By the end of Everdell, you’ll likely have built a beautiful city brimming with interesting characters and captivating places to explore. There’s truly much to enjoy in this game.
Compared to the original, it feels slightly pared down, but this doesn’t detract from the overall experience. The gameplay is smooth throughout, and even with an impressive card combo, you’ll never have to wait long for your turn. One surprise for veterans of the Everdell universe is the limited resources. With only six pebbles and twelve berries provided, resource management becomes a tight give-and-take. However, the game compensates with opportunities to play cards through discounts and Occupied tokens.
The Everdell Duo game offers numerous advantages to players. Before starting, the game feels like a sandbox, ready for exploration. There’s a certain uncertainty about which direction to take, but James and Clarissa have thoughtfully considered this in the final design. Events provide clear objectives, such as earning three Tan cards in your city or collecting a specific number of Critters and resources. These events, along with the positioning of the Sun and Moon, create a focus for both players.
Another great feature is the seasonal swap of starting positions. Starting first means choosing any of the location’s spaces, while the player going second receives a nice bonus for their efforts. With only three workers to place each season, every choice matters, and the interaction between players is one of the game’s strongest features.
Enemies or Friends?
A Game of Everdell offers four playstyles: competitive, co-op, campaign co-op and solo. Having covered competitive mode, let’s explore the co-op options.
Everdell Duo features a 15-chapter co-op storyline, setting the stage for its replayability. In campaign mode, you compete against Miss Lily Thorn, a local Skunk news presenter documenting your arrival and city’s completion. She blocks locations and events, reducing the number of turns.
Each chapter opens with a new scenario requiring setup. You and your partner have two attempts to win each chapter, earning three medals by the final 15th chapter.
The chapter stories guide you into each scenario, adding colour to the otherwise repetitive campaign. Hidden information encourages communication between players, requiring them to convey resource needs without revealing exact quantities.
Even seasoned fans might struggle with the high scores needed, despite the “rewind” mechanic using Tortoises’ pocket watch. Another mechanic is the shared resource mat, where players trade cards, occupied tokens and resources.
For example, the first chapter requires scoring 3 events and 85 points to win Miss Lily Thorn. In our head-to-head games, scores have ranged from mid-50s to high 50s. 85 points with four workers is a challenge! However, completing and beating a chapter brings immense satisfaction, motivating players to finish them all in one night.
Challenge mode introduces a unique twist where Miss Lily Thorn draws three cards from the Meadow at the season’s end. Your objective this time is to outscore the Skunk and secure the events she challenges you to. While Miss Lily Thorn consistently plays 15 cards per game, unlike the standard 24 turns, you’re limited to just 16! Efficiency becomes crucial in this mode.
Solo mode offers a compromise, allowing players to switch between the Rabbit and the Tortoise against Miss Lily Thorn. The rules are largely the same as Challenge mode but with a key difference: you can see exactly which cards and resources are needed by either character.
Personally, I find the solo modes comparable to Challenge Co-op mode. Winning events against the Skunk is tough, and the reduced number of turns significantly increases the difficulty. However, the ability to see both hands on the table alleviates some tension, making the game more enjoyable. While I appreciate the solo mode, I doubt I’ll ever bring it to the table.
New Buds or Dead Leaves?
Everdell distinguishes itself in a sea of two-player-only experiences. The fantastic theming and adorable artwork are a big draw. The excellent card abilities and engaging skills enhance the thematic feel.
I appreciate the variety of gameplay options, though a few modes might never appeal to me. The Campaign story with my wife is a highlight, even at the increased difficulty. The use of the five Events helps guide the game, making it feel like a sandbox with purpose. Those prone to analysis paralysis will find the game gentle yet encouraging, adapting to each scenario.
Replayability is another strong point, thanks to the randomised Events. The surprisingly large deck rarely sees much action, with only about 30-40 cards played each time. The Occupied Tokens for free Critter building is a great addition, easing the strain of the original games. Finally, the fantastic quality of the resources, squidgy berries to smooth pebbles, resplendent resin and tactile twigs, adds to the wholesome feel.
The cards are a bit muted and could be brighter, reflecting the cheerful game environment. The colour scheme is slightly darker than the theming suggests, but the art and assets are wonderfully drawn and integrated. The rulebook can be confusing, especially for newcomers to the universe. Another downside is the game’s storage in bags rather than inserts, which takes a while to set up due to the numerous pieces. Despite these minor issues, Everdell offers excellent value for money.
Final Thoughts
Everdell Duo is a heart warming game with a stunning theme that’s beautifully woven throughout every aspect of gameplay. While the rules might seem a bit complex at first, Everdell manages to maintain its light worker placement format. Despite the many options available, the limited resources, cards and time all work together perfectly.
Fans of Everdell will appreciate the numerous paths to victory and the fresh take this version offers on the format. Over time, improvements to the universe have been incorporated, including more open events and greater freedom for Occupied tokens.
This game is fantastic for couples seeking an immersive Everdell experience.
