Valley of the Kings*

Valley of the Kings is a unique deck-building board game that transports players back to ancient Egypt, where they take on the roles of nobles preparing for the afterlife. The game cleverly integrates Egyptian burial customs and artifacts into its mechanics, offering a thematic and strategic experience.

Gameplay Overview

• Role-playing as Egyptian Nobles: Players assume the roles of nobles during the time of the pharaohs, focusing on preparing for their eventual death and burial.
• Deck-Building Mechanics: Players acquire cards representing various artifacts and items for their tomb, such as food, canopic jars, statues, and amulets.
• Pyramid Card Layout: Cards are arranged in a pyramid shape, with purchases made from the base of the pyramid. This mechanism causes the pyramid to "crumble," bringing higher cards down for purchase in subsequent turns.
• Tomb and Scoring: The key to scoring is transferring cards from the deck to the player's tomb. Cards only score if they are entombed, emphasizing the balance between using card effects and securing them for points.

Special Features

• Dynamic Pyramid Market: The pyramid layout for card purchasing adds a dynamic and visually engaging element to the game, with strategic implications for card availability.
• Card Removal for Scoring: Unique to this game is the concept of removing cards from one’s deck and placing them in the tomb to score, contrary to most deck builders where players build up their deck.
• Thematic Integration: The game is steeped in Egyptian theme, with artifacts and practices from the era cleverly integrated into the gameplay.
• Strategic Depth: Players must carefully strategize not only which cards to acquire but also when to use them and when to entomb them for scoring.

Conclusion

Valley of the Kings offers a fresh twist on the deck-building genre, combining strategic depth with a rich Egyptian theme. Players must think tactically about building their deck while also considering the right time to secure their cards in the tomb for scoring. The unique pyramid card market and the emphasis on entombing cards for points make this game a distinct and engaging experience for both casual and seasoned gamers.