Garphil’s Ancient Anthology is a very interesting group of games. They started as individual outings apart from their other sagas, but because they shared an overall theme and starting to get numerous, they became their own thing.
With two more coming soon and many more I hope in the future, here is my top 5 games in the line. And, just to be clear, there 7 games and all 7 are really good. These are the ones I play the most.
5 – Assyria
Though not originally from the series, or even from Garphil, Assyria found a new home and it fits perfectly.
It’s a game with a lot of elements: action points, auction, resource management and even light engine building. But it all comes together in a very fluid and intuitive flow.
Assyria feels like a gateway to heavier euros, where it presents you with a ton of interesting choices, but never weighs you down with rules overload.
4 – Raiders of Scythia
The main reason this game is only on fourth is that its older sibling exists to share the space. The core elements that made Raiders of the North Sea amazing are kept here, but lots of improvements and ideas inspired by the expansions make this just as impressive.
Raiders of Scythia shows that the core mechanisms in North Sea are as good as ever, but it has enough identity to shine on its own feet.
3 – Skara Brae
Do you like resource management? Well, there are few games as resource-y and management-y than Skara Brae. Aided by drafting and worker placement, but the heart is managing how you earn, spend, trade and store the whopping 16 types of resources. But, even though it’s a huge number, it never feels excessive.
In its surface, Skara Brae is a simple game in terms of rules. But beneath there is a tense and rich game of resources where efficiency, planing and perfect timing are crucial for winning.
2 – The Anarchy
A game that was up until very recently one of my favorite verb and writes, Hadrian’s Wall, is not even on this list. Why? Well, The Anarchy exists.
If you like both verb and writes and amazingly complex systems, both games are mandatory for your collection. The essence is receive workers, than spend them to advance different tracks, earn more works, rinse and repeat. All in hopes to raise defenses and prepare for attacks.
The Anarchy is everything that made Hadrian’s Wall amazing, but it streamlines what was excessive and expands on its more intesting parts. It’s equal parts intense and rewarding.
1 – Ezra and Nehemiah
This is one of the heaviest games Garphil ever put out, and at first it does look daunting and intimidating. But once you start playing it’s surprisingly intuitive. The heart of the game is playing cards and adding banners, which will allow you to do certain actions better. But the one card you play have so many raficiations and possibilities that can make your head spin.
Ezra and Nehemiah feels like an amalgam of the best systems Garphil put out, but combined in a manner that feels unique. It’s a hard game to master, but one that offers something new each play.
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