Ruination

This and Blood Rage will be my Area Control/Dudes on a map games of choice for years to come. A unique experience that keeps finding its way to our table. Such a good design. Wish some components were higher quality (player board and dice) but honestly the game is so fun I can't even ding a point for those very small issues. Probably my favorite game right now.

I just got this along with the Blood Sworn expansion. It's a typical Dudes on a Map game, but I feel like the way it is implemented is more fun, thematic, and interesting than some of the typical games like this, even those that have surged in popularity in years past, such as Blood Rage, Kemet, Cyclades, Rising Sun, Chaos in the Old World, etc.... This fresh approach of an old somewhat abandoned category of games (Dudes on the Map, AKA Ameritrash) has me really excited. I've played 3 times already and looking forward to many more plays.

Great Game! In rotation with Blood Rage, Rising Sun, and Judge Dredd Helter Skelter. Easy to learn, lots of Replay-ability. Exile Miniatures are great quality and fun to paint.

Ruination is one of those games whose dynamics seemed familiar to me when I first read the rulebook. The setting is fabulous, as are the illustrations. The game is fast dynamic, tense until the last fight. I like the idea that no battle is final and a player can recreate his army from scratch by re-entering the game.

Really fun! As a fan of all the games this is inspired by, it stands on its own, now I need to locate a copy... As for the comment below about 'the game can change radically when it comes around to your turn, I would completely disagree with that. There are really only three actions to do each turn (move, scavenge resources, and recruit). You pretty much know what you need to do on your turn anyway. The card decks are important but really enhance the action you need to do. Yes it may change when it gets around to you, but it's not complicated, and I felt engaged 100% of the time. Even during others turns I watched intently everything going on as it all could effect me. Great game!