MOSAIC: A STORY OF CIVILIZATION (2022)

PLAYERS	TIME	DESIGNER	PUBLISHER
2-6	120 mins	Glenn Drover	Forbidden Games

In this epic 2-6 player civilization engine builder, players advance their technologies, build Towns and Cities, and erect great Wonders.

But despite its table hogging size and hundreds of components, MOSAIC is actually simpler to play than it first appears.

Each turn you have a choice of 8 actions. If you’re not gathering resources with the Work action, you’re spending those resources to gain cards in your tableau or placing tokens on the map.

Turns are quick, there is always something to be working towards, and your game plan can pivot with impressive fluidity.

Despite its 2+ hour play time the game can fly by.

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But space is the issue. Past the big board and the pretty large player boards, there is the space you’ll need for your Technology Cards. Which you’ll be getting a lot of.

Each card comes with Pillars of Civilization symbols. There are 9 altogether and some cards require you to have certain symbols to be able to take them.

Symbols are also good for claiming points scoring Golden Age and Achievement Tiles.

And Project Cards score based on the number of certain symbols at the end of the game.

Suffice to say, these symbols are important.

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So where does MOSAIC fall down? Well, there’s the set up time. Sorting the various decks of cards, getting the Trade tokens set on the board, and organising the rest of the tokens can take some time.

The retail version is also quite flat. It’s all card tokens and cards, a very beige 2-D presence on the table.

And overall the game is a race more than a heavy, thinky Civilization game. It’s a busy game, but quite simple to follow.

Overall MOSAIC is a simple game in complex clothing. But it’s ease to learn and quick turns make it great for gamers who would shy away from heavier Civ games.