Exploring Wandering Towers: A Family-Friendly Board Game with Hidden Depths

Board gaming enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the next exciting addition to their collection. Wandering Towers attracted significant attention as a strong candidate for the esteemed 2023 Spiel des Jahres award in the board gaming world. With respected designers like Michael Kiesling, known for Azul, and multiple award-winner Wolfgang Kramer, this board game boasts significant credibility. The game’s visual appeal, featuring stacks of 3D cardboard castles, only adds to its allure.

At its foundation, Wandering Towers is a race to the finish. The objective is to be the first to get all your wizards into Ravenskeep and to fill all your potion bottles, the number of which varies with the player count to keep games around a half-hour long. The twist lies in trapping wizards under one of the 12 cardboard towers to fill these potion bottles. Each turn, players use cards to move a wizard, a tower, or make another move. Movement planning is crucial as wizards need to move an exact number of spaces to be trapped.

The game's aesthetic is appealing, combining retro wooden meeples with flamboyant cardboard buildings, topped with a charming cartoon art style. Beneath its approachable rules lies a deeper complexity. Filled potions serve dual purposes: they are not only a win condition but also allow you to cast spells. Beginners start with basic spells, but advanced levels introduce more diverse spells that enhance strategic depth. Wandering Towers also offers various play modes right out of the box, including solitaire and cooperative modes, with options that keep players on their toes.

Initially, players might view Wandering Towers as a straightforward race to get wizards to the finish line. Moving towers impacts everyone since it’s hard for wizards to climb alone, often leading to unintentional cooperation. Tactical decisions, such as moving a tower to trap other wizards for potion gains, are common. This aspect makes it a family-weight optimization game with an attractive presentation. However, this is just the beginning of its complexity.

The game's true charm reveals itself when players understand the movement mechanics of Ravenskeep. As wizards enter the keep, it moves, altering the race dynamics. Clever players will realize controlling tower movements can influence the keep’s direction. The deterministic nature of the game, balanced with random card draws and occasional dice rolls, offers control over wizards and strategic decisions with each turn. The interplay of wizards, towers, and potions creates a dynamic environment where tactics shine.

Wandering Towers provides varied and entertaining modes, but it does suffer from a lack of long-term strategic depth. The game state shifts dramatically each turn, favoring immediate tactical choices over long-term planning. This might reduce the sense of progression and development players usually seek in replayable games. The different modes – solo, cooperative, and team-based variations – offer mixed experiences. The ‘mean’ version can inject fun with the right group, but also raises rule ambiguities. The team variant stands out, adding tactical depth through card and potion exchanges. Spells add further layers to the game's strategic elements.

Wandering Towers is undeniably enjoyable, though its limited replay value and vague fit within distinct gaming profiles might be drawbacks. Its unique blend of elements makes it both tactical and interactive, though not entirely strategic or vicious. This novel design, full of unexpected depth, might appeal to those intrigued by innovation in gameplay, as well as families looking for an engaging and visually appealing game.

Buy it if...

If you are drawn to novelty and clever game design, Wandering Towers could be a worthy addition to your collection. It's a great fit for those who enjoy family games with both tactical depth and aesthetic appeal.

Don't buy it if...

If you seek games with deep strategic planning and long-term replayability, Wandering Towers might not fully satisfy your preferences.

How we tested Wandering Towers

Our testing process for Wandering Towers involved multiple gameplay sessions to evaluate its mechanics, longevity, and accessibility. For more insights into our review process, refer to our review policy and guide on how we test board games.