Last modified April 16, 2025 by jarjar

Res Arcana has become a classic in our house, with more than fifteen games played. It's a game that ages very well and remains just as fun as ever. It offers this unique experience: playing an entire game with only 8 cards, which is what makes it so original. Eight cards and resources with which we seek to maximize optimization; we carry out numerous resource conversions throughout the game. Our brain is put to the test to find the most profitable sequences. The fruits of our efforts are felt after a few rounds, once the points machine is well established.

The game reminds me of a trading card game (TCG), but in the form of a board game. It includes the excitement of opening a new booster pack (here by discovering the 16 cards during the draft), the strategic thinking of the draft, the construction of the deck, and then its implementation.

The image of the box can be scary, it reminds me of Princess Lea, who got lost in another world.

GAME FACT
The publisher explained on a forum that the mages are all inspired by specific characters (real or mythological), even if they wanted to keep the generic name.
Ex: The duelist, Thycho Brahe
Easy you might say, because he has a golden nose. Tycho Brahe is an astronomer, astrologer and alchemist who lost his nose in a sword duel! He replaced it with a nasal prosthesis and said it was made of gold and silver.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 15 +
Level: experienced player
Best setup: 2 players

MY IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> This optimization work with only 8 cards.
>> It's full of fun choices in less than an hour.
>> We feel all the work of the author through the elegance of the design and the fluidity of the game.
>> The insert is well made! There's even room for extensions.

I liked less
>> Attacks are simple and unsatisfying (easily blocked).

A new game in this universe arrived in November 2024, called Res Arcana Duo, which is both an expansion for Res Arcana and a standalone game for two players.

Res Arcana Duo doesn't introduce any new mechanics, just additional cards, with no attacks: 16 artifacts and 4 mages, just enough for 2 players. Beautiful and interesting combinations are possible! Ideal for playing a quick game or introducing someone to this excellent game.

RULE POINT
Each player starts the game with one resource of each type.

A remarkably elegant and simple game to learn, yet still difficult to optimize, Res Arcana reveals itself to players through repeated playthroughs and offers a rewarding gaming experience for all levels of players.

FUN FACTOR 🙂 🙂 🙂