Stats:
No. of players: 2-5
Amount of time to play: 90 min
Age requirements: 13+
Set-up time: 5 min

Compounded is a board game about chemistry. You get VPs by creating compounds from elements. Score the most VPs and win the game.

Compounded Rules Description:

Each round of Compounded starts by drawing new elements. There are 6 types of elements and some are more rare than others. You can trade elements with others for their elements or even future favors. You start the game with a wild element that can be used once in a compound to represent all but the rarest element.

Next you claim compounds. This marks the elements you will score once they are completed. You can put your token on an unclaimed item or move a previously placed token to a new item.

During the research phase you place elements on compounds. If you complete an unclaimed compound you can claim it with an unused claim token.

The last phase in a round is the lab phase. In player order you score completed compounds. Each compound is related to one of the phases and upon completion they let you advance your experiments in those areas. So if you complete a compound with the research symbol on it, you can put down more elements each research phase. You can increase the number of elements you draw, claim tokens you may place, elements you can put out and amount of space you have for elements in your lab.

Some compounds can grant you access to tools like a graduated cylinder, journal or keys. These give you special abilities that are either one-shots or last for the entire game.

When you refill compounds you may reveal a lab fire, which can cause flammable compounds to explode. When a flammable compound explodes the elements on it are dispersed to adjacent compounds. You start the game with a fire extinguisher that you must build with elements. Once it is built you can discard to stop one compound from exploding.

The game ends when one player reaches 50 VPs, they have three of their experiments maxed out or you are unable to refill the compounds during the lab phase. You gain 4 VPs if you have a completed fire extinguisher, 2 VPs if you did not use your wild element, 1 VP for each element on an incomplete compound and 1 VP for every two elements you have on your player mat. The player with the most VPs wins the game.

Quick Review of Compounded:

Compounded has an interesting mix of elements found in many hobby games. There is set collection, trading and a bit of worker placement. It all fits the theme pretty well too.

The components for this game are excellent. It looks fantastic. The score track is the periodic table of elements, the elements are gem-like chits and the iconography and design are beautiful. The rulebook is a little disorganized but not so much that you cannot understand the game after you read through it. You may just have to check back through it the first couple of plays to be reminded of some details.

Like I said the game looks great and it attracts a lot of attention on the table. The theme is unique and who doesn’t enjoy SCIENCE (read that in the voice of the guy from the Thomas Dolby song).

Knowing what experiments to level first should really drive which compounds you complete early. There is one less tool then there are players so you might want to race after them. But there is definitely a superior order in which to level your experiments.

The fact that stuff explodes in the lab is both fun and chaotic. You can even use it to your advantage to get elements onto your compounds and possibly even finish them. The bunsen burner is a tool that let you make an opponent’s non-flammable compound flammable. This can help you stifle an opponent that is ahead or threatening your lead.

For all the good things Compounded has going for it there are a few things I wish were different. I know you are expected to trade, but with all the open information in the game, I can tell how much I am helping you when we trade. If your elements were secret it would create more trade opportunities. As it is now players rarely trade with the leader or only make trades that really benefit them. A lot also hinges on the elements you blindly draw.

I also found the game a bit dry. I like the theme and the way everything fits together. There is a lot going on but I just felt it was a bit too bland. I want to play it with secret workbenches and even that might be enough to spice it up.

That said if you love SCIENCE and want a fun eurogame you should give Compounded a try. It may not be for everyone but it might be for you.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 4 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6