Stats:
No. of players: 2
Amount of time to play: 30-90 min (depending on scenario and army size)
Age requirements: 14+
Set-up time: 5-10 min

Golem Arcana is a tactical miniatures game that uses an app to apply rules, build armies and track game state.

Golem Arcana Rules Description:

The Golem Arcana Base Set comes with six miniatures and their stat cards, six double-sided map tiles, some tokens, two d10s and a stylus. You must also have a smartphone or tablet that can run the Golem Arcana App.

After you sync the stylus to your device you pick the scenario you want to play from within the app. The app then shows you how to layout the tiles and where to place the figures and tokens on them.

On your turn you get a certain number of Action Points (APs) based on your army size. You spend these APs to move and attack with your golems. Different modes of movement and attacks cost different amounts of APs.

When you want to move a golem you tap its base or its card with the stylus. The app then shows you the squares you can move into based on the movement option you selected. You tap the square you want move into with the stylus then confirm the decision. Your golem will move in the app and you must reposition the miniature on the board. The app will not let you move to a square you couldn’t reach due to terrain. If you move out of a square with an enemy figure you must pay an extra AP for the move.

Attacking is similar to moving. You tap your golem (or its card) you want to be the attacker, select the attack option you want to use and then tap the golem you wish to attack. The app shows you a percentage so you know your chance of hitting. If you roll equal to or under the number shown or doubles (11, 22, 33, 44, etc…) you hit. If you roll doubles that would have hit you score a critical hit and inflicts extra damage. If you are attacking from range the app tells you if you do not have line of sight to your target.

After a golem uses a movement or attack the AP cost doubles until that option has finished Cooldown. Movement options gain one pip of Cooldown and attacks gain two pips. At the start of your turn the app removes one pip of Cooldown from all your previously used move and attack options. That means you can move once a round and use an attack every other round without ever paying more than its base AP. Each golem has at least two attack options and this keeps you from using your most powerful option over and over again.

When you build the board you place Mana Well tokens on it. If you are in a square with a Mana Well token at the beginning of your turn and there are no enemy units there, you gain six Mana. After a Mana Well has been claimed twice it is exhausted. You also gain Mana if you have leftover APs at the end of your turn. You gain one Mana for each leftover AP. You also gain Mana equal to half a unit’s cost when it is eliminated. You spend Mana on Ancient Ones. You choose the group of Ancient Ones for your army just like you choose golems and their cost is added to the total cost of your army. These powerful gods grant you blessings or curse your enemy. You access them by tapping the control card. The app shows you the details of their abilities and the Mana cost.

Knights are the beings that ride your golems into battle. Like Ancient Ones they are accessed in the app. They grant the golem they ride special powers or abilities and add to the cost of your army. Some of their abilities cost Mana to use. Relics are similar to knights in that they are accessed in the app but the rules say some relics are found in expansions too. A relic grants the golem carrying it special abilities and might cost mana to activate.

Each scenario has its own end game and victory condition. But the app constantly adds new scenarios, knights and Ancient Ones.

Quick Review of Golem Arcana:

Golem Arcana is one of the most accessible miniatures games out there. Even though you need a device to run the app. Once that barrier of entrance is cleared the game can be played by most anyone.

The components for this game are really nice. The miniatures, tiles and art in the app all look great. The included rulebook is mostly fluff and tells the stories of the different factions in the game. But there is a section about using the stylus. The tutorial in the app gives all the details about playing the game. If you are interested in the rules they are available online here. My few component gripes are small, the rulebook doesn’t really fit in the box and the insert seems too tight.

I was skeptical at first about a miniatures game with an app, but I like how Golem Arcana plays. The first couple of games you will wonder why there is a board. But the more I played the more I found myself looking at the board and less at the app. The app takes care of details you might miss like adjusting your to hit percentage because your target is in cover. It ensures you won’t make a rules mistake that alters that outcome of the game.

The app is flexible. If changes are needed, it can adjust costs and abilities of knights and Ancient Ones. It also adds new scenarios.

The Cooldown mechanic is great and adds some nice depth to this game. Deciding when you want to pay two or three times the cost of an attack or move can be key to winning.

As I said above this is a really accessible miniatures war game. The age says 14+ but my 7 year old was able to play and do pretty well. The way you point and click to everything is straightforward and intuitive.

You should be aware it can be easy to play this game without understanding rules. That is the danger of the app. Since it takes care of most of the rules you can rely on it too much. Be sure to pay attention during the tutorial so you know the rule details during the game, before you make your moves. And it would have been nice to have the online rulebook in print in the box.

This kind of leads to my other wish an undo function. Sometimes you make a move and realize you are in a different square than you thought you’d be. Well if you already confirmed that move in the app you pretty much have to live with it.

Golem Arcana is for you if you are looking more a fun, strategic miniatures game you can play with most anyone. It is great for kids and families too. Just be sure you have a device that can run the app. And be aware you might want an expansion or two to bolster your forces and create more variety from game to game.

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