Gold Digger Review by ZombieMonkey
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Gold Digger is a small game, packed perfectly in a little box, by the prolific Reiner Knizia. Much lighter than other Knizia games – but with a slightly convoluted scoring system so beloved of Herr Knizia – Gold Digger is a light but strategic card game with lots of luck and a nicely short playing time.
Published by Out of the Box and sporting the high production values as well as pleasing graphic design so typical of their games, Gold Digger certainly does provide an attractive package. The rules are clear and concise, with excellent illustrations of rules that may have been open to confusion otherwise (although this is debatable given the simplistic nature of the rules!).
Gold Digger is a very light card game, which sees players laying characters and gold bags, staking claims where possible in an attempt to gather the most gold. When a player lays a character above a mine, they can stake a claim on the relevant mine. The risk element that the game is based around is that each player only has three counters with which to stake claims, and each of the six mines has enough space for five characters and five gold cards (each of which has a different amount of gold on, and even some zero value fool's gold makes an appearance). As soon as all of the cards are played, the game ends. So, the main strategy of the game becomes one in which everyone tries desperately to hide what their plans are, but tries not to be left out of the claim staking. Stake a claim too soon, and fool's gold will be heaped upon the claimed mine. Leave the claim too late, and you may not have a character available in order to claim a mine. Not exactly the deepest of strategies are employed in the playing of the game, but it makes for a very quick, pretty light game which does have the elusive one more go factor, as well as the ever appealing, yet frustrating (in a good way!) 'If only I had one more claim/action/card' factor.
With rules that can be learned in a minute or two, nice graphic design (by Dork Tower's John Kovalic) and gameplay simple enough to be enjoyed by anyone, Gold Digger is recommended to all but the most hardened of strategists, or those expecting a deep Knizia. Those not put off by the high amount of luck and enjoyable, risk-based gameplay will glean much enjoyment from Gold Digger.
Summary
Presentation: A very small and sturdy box, with nicely resilient and appealingly illustrated cards. 9.4/10
Clarity of Rules: The rules are well laid out and illustrated with helpful examples of play. 9.3/10
Game Length: Short, fun and fast: a light game that is brilliantly enjoyable by gamers of all skill levels. 9.2/10
Value: Cheap and cheerful, with a huge amount of replay value – some may find the game too simplistic for their tastes though. 9.1/10
Overall: A light game with excellent mechanics, perfect for players looking for a short, simple but agonisingly fun experience. Seasoned Euro-gamers or those interested only in deep games need not apply. 8.9/10 (not an average)
Gold Digger is a small game, packed perfectly in a little box, by the prolific Reiner Knizia. Much lighter than other Knizia games – but with a slightly convoluted scoring system so beloved of Herr Knizia – Gold Digger is a light but strategic card game with lots of luck and a nicely short playing time.
Published by Out of the Box and sporting the high production values as well as pleasing graphic design so typical of their games, Gold Digger certainly does provide an attractive package. The rules are clear and concise, with excellent illustrations of rules that may have been open to confusion otherwise (although this is debatable given the simplistic nature of the rules!).
Gold Digger is a very light card game, which sees players laying characters and gold bags, staking claims where possible in an attempt to gather the most gold. When a player lays a character above a mine, they can stake a claim on the relevant mine. The risk element that the game is based around is that each player only has three counters with which to stake claims, and each of the six mines has enough space for five characters and five gold cards (each of which has a different amount of gold on, and even some zero value fool's gold makes an appearance). As soon as all of the cards are played, the game ends. So, the main strategy of the game becomes one in which everyone tries desperately to hide what their plans are, but tries not to be left out of the claim staking. Stake a claim too soon, and fool's gold will be heaped upon the claimed mine. Leave the claim too late, and you may not have a character available in order to claim a mine. Not exactly the deepest of strategies are employed in the playing of the game, but it makes for a very quick, pretty light game which does have the elusive one more go factor, as well as the ever appealing, yet frustrating (in a good way!) 'If only I had one more claim/action/card' factor.
With rules that can be learned in a minute or two, nice graphic design (by Dork Tower's John Kovalic) and gameplay simple enough to be enjoyed by anyone, Gold Digger is recommended to all but the most hardened of strategists, or those expecting a deep Knizia. Those not put off by the high amount of luck and enjoyable, risk-based gameplay will glean much enjoyment from Gold Digger.
Summary
Presentation: A very small and sturdy box, with nicely resilient and appealingly illustrated cards. 9.4/10
Clarity of Rules: The rules are well laid out and illustrated with helpful examples of play. 9.3/10
Game Length: Short, fun and fast: a light game that is brilliantly enjoyable by gamers of all skill levels. 9.2/10
Value: Cheap and cheerful, with a huge amount of replay value – some may find the game too simplistic for their tastes though. 9.1/10
Overall: A light game with excellent mechanics, perfect for players looking for a short, simple but agonisingly fun experience. Seasoned Euro-gamers or those interested only in deep games need not apply. 8.9/10 (not an average)
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