Asmodee Nagaraja Board Game

Entertaining and unique mash-up of dice rolling, tile laying with a race to the finish, and card hand management, all rolled into an Indiana Jones theme. Players try to win tiles that build paths to uncover relics worth different numbers of victory points toward a game winning 25. The wrinkle is that three 6-point relics are "cursed", and uncovering all will mean an instant loss. The game revolves around managing an always changing hand of cards to select the type and number of dice ("fortune sticks") to roll so as to win (or sometimes purposefully lose) the tile up for grabs in that turn. Your cards must be used to build your dice roll OR exercise special powers or actions --but cards can be played only once and cannot be played for both purposes. Thus, there is constant tactical tension between trying to win a tile and taking actions that give you an advantage or disrupt your opponent. Luck plays a part in the dice rolls, but you select the number and type of dice to best mesh with what you want to do. The special powers or actions invoked by redeeming points from your dice rolls are clever: peeking at your own or your opponent's relics, moving them around, moving or rotating tiles, changing your own or your opponent's dice values, or fending off an occasional attack. Games produce many twists and turns; things do not always go your way. Complexity is a step above easy, but not deep. New players will get the hang of the game after a couple of plays, with an occasional check of the rule book. Replayability is high; there are no best paths to victory. The game doesn't wear out its welcome; average length is 30 to 40 minutes. Components are top shelf: the dice are unique, artwork is attractive and thematic, card and game board quality is very good, and the box insert for storing components is impressive. Age recommendation: clever 10 year olds and up. This is a very enjoyable game for anyone looking for a step up from more simple two-person games without getting too long or overly thinky. Be aware there are frequent opportunities for competitive player interaction. You must be able to roll with the punches and throw some yourself; all in good fun.

A great two player only game with hand management, tile laying, and push your luck mechanics. The components are great, the "dice" are extremely interesting and have a nice tactile feel, the cards are a nice thickness for shuffling purposes, and all of the cardboard pieces are well done. Everything fits very well inside the insert and the art is very attractive. Simple rules teach and the gameplay is interesting once you figure out how all the rules interact. The only thing I would say is a negative is the "trap" card/tile. While it adds something interesting to the game it seems a bit punishing since there is only 1 card in the entire deck that lets you place it on your opponent's board. So it will rarely come up more than once during a game.

This is an enjoyable 2 person game. You start with 5 cards and decide which combination of fate sticks will net you enough points to beat your partner to claim the tile for your board. Fate sticks are sort of like dice. There are 3 colors / sizes. The small green ones have fewer dots but more naga, the white have more dots and some Naga, and the brown have mostly dots and few Naga. What's a Naga, you ask? Its a wavy line instead of a dot, and allows you to play a card and perform an action. Actions like peek at one of your relics, or draw 2 cards, or turn your tile on your board. There are more actions. For each Naga you throw you get to play an action card. But you still want to win the tile for your board. The board has room for 9 tiles. There is a "trap" tile that an opponent can play that blocks your progress. There are 3 ways to end the game, fill your board with 9 tiles, turn over all 3 demon relics, or reach 25 pts. The relics are positioned face down around your board and the tiles you win with your fate sticks have different paths on them. Each time a path leads from an entrance ( one of 3 ) and connects directly to a relics, you get to turn it over and see how many points its worth. If you change the path through one of the action cards you must flip the relic back over and not count it. Thats the gist of it. There's also amulets that can add points to your score. Overall we like this game

Great two player game. Theme is strong, game is balanced, components are nice. Game is competitive, and has some "take that" that you can do to your opponent, but doesn't feel cut throat (I don't like cut throat games). You also have options such as having a better chance at winning the current tile (you need these to win the game), or having a lesser chance at that tile, but a better chance at messing with your opponent's chances - depends on what you prefer. I highly recommend it.

Grandson loves it!

I really like this game. My wife and I played it the other night and wanted to play it again immediately afterwards. We are both big gamers and exciting 2 player games are rare. We have played it about 3 times in a month. I like that every time you play the scenario/game play changes. Highly recommend!!

just received the game, was delivered fast and it was on the porch by the door not under my bench or hedges. my oldest (10yo) son and i played 3 games in a row, the games instructions were a little convoluted but the game was easy to play after we watched a youtube video, isn't that the way most people learn how to play board games? the game was in excellent condition, no dents or scratches. would buy again.

Nagaraja is a quick game that have great strategy and fun mechanics. You are competing to see who is the best explorer, but you can be cursed and lose the game, also your rival can mess with your board or steal one of those precious roads that you desesperately need it. Also, te game is beautiful, with nice art, good componets and a great box. I just love this game