Splendor Board Game (Revised Edition) by Space Cowboys

Splendor is a gem-trading, engine-building game from Space Cowboys, designed by Marc André and first published in 2014. You play a Renaissance merchant buying mines, transport and shops to earn prestige. This listing is for the revised edition. Splendor won the Golden Geek Board Game of the Year award for 2014 and was a Spiel des Jahres 2014 nominee.

On your turn you take gem tokens, reserve a card or buy a development card with gems. Each card you buy gives a permanent gem discount and often prestige points, so your engine gets cheaper and faster as the game goes on. Nobles visit when your discounts match what they want, and the first player to reach 15 prestige points triggers the final round. The rules are quick to teach, which makes it a good first strategy game.

Game details: Players: 2 to 4. Play time: about 30 minutes. Ages: 10 and up. Publisher: Space Cowboys. Box contents: 90 development cards (40 level 1, 30 level 2 and 20 level 3), 10 noble tiles, 40 gem tokens (7 each of five colours and 5 gold), 1 first player marker and a rulebook.

Ideal for families, new strategy gamers, and game nights that need something quick to set up and deep enough to replay. More like this: 7 Wonders Duel and Forest Shuffle. Browse more board games.