If you like strategy board games with a minimal element of luck, immerse yourself in Scythe and the alternate-history 1920s lands of Europa.

In Scythe, each player represents a character from one of five factions of Eastern Europa who are attempting to earn their fortune and claim their faction's stake in the land around 'The Factory' - an abandoned state from a previous great war. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.

Every part of Scythe has an aspect of 'engine-building' to it – Players can upgrade actions to become more efficient, build structures that improve their position on the map, enlist new recruits to enhance character abilities, activate Mechs to deter opponents from invading, and expand their borders to reap greater types and quantities of resources.

These engine-building aspects create a sense of momentum and progress throughout the game. The order in which players improve their engine adds to the unique feel of each game, even when playing one faction multiple times.

Each player begins the game with different resources (power, coins, combat acumen, and popularity), a different starting location, and a hidden goal. Starting positions are specially calibrated to contribute to each faction’s uniqueness and the asymmetrical nature of the game (each faction always starts in the same place).

Scythe uses a streamlined action-selection mechanism to keep gameplay moving and reduce downtime between turns. While there is plenty of direct conflict for players who seek it, there is no player elimination.