Splendor

Join us as we review Splendor, an elegant card game with simple mechanics that we first played in Montreal, Quebec. Collect gemstones, purchase developments, and attract nobles!

Splendor is published by Space Cowboys, owned by Asmodee - the company that publishes 7 Wonders, Catan and Ticket to Ride. Splendor is an engine-building game where players collect basic resources in the form of gems and gold to build an economy. This economy is used to collect prestige points. There are five gemstones, each with a different color along with gold which acts as a wildcard.

Players can take one of four actions on their turn. The first is to take three gems of different colors from the resource pool.

The second option is to take two gems of the same color provided that there are at least four gems of that color to start. Be conscientious of how many times you choose to take two, as over the long run it can put you at a disadvantage in terms of total spending power.

With action option three you get to take and reserve a card from the table into your hand. This might be a defensive move to ensure your exclusive right to play the card, or offensive in preventing another player from deploying it. On top of gaining a card, you also get a gold piece for your troubles. Using this option too many times can stunt your economy since you spend a turn to pick up the card and a turn to later pay for and play it. Selective use can be powerful.

The final option is to deploy a card either from the table or your hand. This is the action that ultimately builds your economy and leads to prestige.

Development cards have a cost indicated in the lower-left that must be paid to deploy. Some have prestige points which are located in the top-left. Once deployed, development cards provide a bonus indicated in the top-right. Once per turn, this bonus can be used to help pay for deployment of a development card as part of action-option number four.

Noble cards act as a bonus, and another vector for prestige points. The nobles can be attracted by deploying development cards on your side in the proper colors and numbers. At the end of your turn compare your deployed development cards with the noble criteria. You may take one noble per turn if you meet or exceed the criteria. The first player to attract a noble keeps it for the game!

With more than three million copies sold, Splendor is widespread both in physical and virtual form with expansions and spin-off variants. We first played it in a small gaming cafe in Montreal where the owners recommended it as easy and interesting. After playing a few rounds we purchased our own copy before leaving the city and have since introduced it to others. If you haven't already, give Splendor a try!