A truly unique game

We have talked about 🗺️ Maps of Misterra before, but I am back because there is more to say! 🙂 Here’s a short recap in case you haven’t seen our previous post:
It is a tile-laying game in which you play as cartographers who are mapping out a new island. 🏝️ Interestingly, there are 2 aspects you have to manage at the same time: your personal map and the actual layout of the island that is influenced by everyone. These two don’t necessarily have to match, as you have sponsors with expectations you want to please, so you might twist the truth a bit. 😉 Your meeple adds an additional layer to the game, as it limits where you can go and explore and triggers additional effects on the different terrain types.

I haven’t gone into the round structure itself before. On each turn you get to do 2 full activations, which go like: move ➡️ take a sketch card ➡️ map or claim. Moving is essential because you can only put sketch cards on spaces near your meeple. If you choose to “map” 🖋️, these cards go on your personal board, but that might also change the actual layout of the shared map board. Claiming means that you place down your flag 🚩 for some end-game scoring. The bigger contiguous area you take, the more points! This adds yet another layer to positioning and decision making. 👍

Because players can all influence the main board, and possibly change terrain tiles (if they aren’t “confirmed” yet), I was afraid we would keep undoing each other’s turns. However because everyone gets to act twice on their turn, there is a lot you can do, and you could just place a new terrain type and confirm it on the same turn, so everything works out in the end. 😊 The scoring is interesting too, because you have to match “reality” (the state on the main board) as best as you can, while also trying to fulfill your personal objectives. This is where you need a game or two to really understand how you can do well.

I think every game from Sit down! Games is very unique and amazing in some ways. If you check their releases, they always have innovative ideas, and Maps of Misterra is no exception!