Last modified May 24, 2026 by Jarjar

Overview
Orloj is a classic worker placement game where players take on the roles of rival master builders seeking to contribute to Prague's legendary astronomical clock by constructing its calendar, Apostles' Chime, and zodiac spheres. Each turn, workers are placed on the clock face to perform primary and secondary actions. The mechanism can be forced for greater flexibility, but at the risk of deviations that must be corrected before the clock strikes midnight. The game unfolds along three development paths (Astronomy, Engineering, and Spirituality) and ends when the calendar is complete, with the player with the most harmony points winning.

My first impressions
When you look at the numerous images of the game online and then see the board for the first time, it's incredibly detailed, beautiful, and very intriguing. But don't let the complexity put you off; in fact, it attracted me. It's not so bad after all; it's nothing like Lacerda (although it is quite sequential)! My friend Jeff's daughter had barely stepped into the front door when she saw the game on the table and said, "Oh wow, this game is really beautiful!"

And this game doesn't revolutionize anything at all; it's classic worker placement, resource trading, and progressing along different tracks with bonuses. Where the game stands out is in its visual presentation, particularly the double action wheel, which is a departure from what we've seen before, but I'd say that's about it! There's always something worthwhile to do on your turn, so there's not really any pressure. Thanks to the deflection mechanic, you can almost always find profitable combos; the further the game progresses, the more efficient you become (you can spin the wheel further and further).

With two players, there's plenty of room; I never felt cramped. Resources flow freely, and you often end up with a surplus, which you frequently end up spending by converting it into gold (3 resources equal one gold). And gold is precious, because it allows you to build the clock. This is also the only area where the game presents a bit of a challenge. Yes, occasionally you might think, "Ah, you've turned the wheel too many times!" making a coveted action inaccessible, especially at the beginning of the game.

It features several sections in the form of mini-games, where most actions are repeated. Some turns require careful planning to maximize combos. I don't think this game is fun with four players, as the wheels are constantly moving, you can't really plan anything between turns, and with some combos taking a long time to execute, there can be significant downtime.

GAME FACTS
The astronomical dial, the oldest part of the clock, dates back to 1410, but the game takes place around 1865, when the Apostles' chimes and the calendar painted by Josef Mánes were added to the clock. The designers therefore chose to focus on this historical turning point rather than covering the entirety of the Orloj's past.

The games I enjoy are the ones that can hurt. Cards that fill up, forcing us to find the optimal hole. Economies that collapse. An opponent's perfectly orchestrated move that prevents you from executing your own. Orloj doesn't produce anything like that. It's quite sequential and open without restrictions: you turn, you convert, you chain actions, and you pass. Modern Eurogames seem to be taking this turn, too: they're polished and smooth, removing any real obstacles so we can always score as many points as possible.

What we seem to remember most about our playthroughs of this game is the constant manipulation of the wheel – and yes, it spins like crazy! Does the game lose its appeal after a few rounds? Does it reveal more depth, other avenues to explore? I have my doubts; we'll see over time.

SOLO

The solo mode pits us against Josef Mánes himself. It's very well designed and original, with very simple and quick maintenance once you get the hang of it. We know what he's going to do on his next turn: he performs two actions, and if he succeeds, he gets a book progression bonus and a lot of points, almost always forcing us, on our turn, to block at least one of his two actions—a very interesting concept. We sometimes face heart-wrenching situations. Well done!

RULE POINT
When you go to retrieve an apostle on a wheel, you must rotate it one notch afterwards. But you have the option of using the forward deflection to rotate the wheel.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 3 (solo and 2 players)
Best player configuration: 3
Level: experienced player (BGG complexity: 3.57/5)
My best score: 133
Price: $87 CAD

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The double washer (or even triple washer) system is very well thought out and very pretty!
>> The really appealing visual
>> Lots of quality equipment for the price
>> Well-integrated theme

I liked less :
>> Multiple symbols and no game aids
>> We can wait a certain amount of time between rounds, subject to paralysis
>> Rather tedious setup
>> Rules that can be forgotten after a while
>> What is this useless piece for holding the cube centered on the hammer card?
>> It doesn't reinvent the wheel, to my disappointment, because the hype at Essen seemed to suggest otherwise

A visually stunning medium weight game, whose Prague astronomical clock theme is elegantly translated into rondel and worker placement mechanics, less complex than it looks, despite a complex setup, and very satisfying to play thanks to combos that flow naturally.

FUN FACTOR: : ): ): )