Deck Building – John Collings

The Lost Ruins of Arnak

Where I live in Peru, I am close to some ancient ruins that predate the Inca empire. It is a strange feeling to wander around town, and to stumble across these from time to time, and to think about all of the riches that they hold. These ruins are all over the place in Peru, and over my many travels throughout the country, I cannot marvel of what the civilizations in this part of the world might have been. I also think about the explorer that came out here, and explored these various sites, and took back to their countries the treasures they discovered there. It doesn’t help that my newest game that I have been recently playing, I believe was partly inspired by this dynamic in Peru.

In The Lost Ruins of Arnak, you play an explorer that has recently landed on the island of Arnak. As that explorer, you are tasked with finding the rumored ruins that lay somewhere on the island. You need to collect the appropriate resources required to exchange them for the knowledge and the bribes that the ancient monsters crave to be the one to discover this mythic location. You travel on foot, or take cars, boats and planes to different locations until you can make it to the lost ruins.

The landscape of Peru, and the history that I learn while living here reminds me of the game, and the game reminds me that I am living in Peru. Not only has it been a great game to play in South America, but its design and game play have also made it a fun game to play even if I was not living in this part of the world right now. So do not be scared if you live in a different part of the world that does not include ancient ruins, Amazonian rain forest, and exotic beasts, I am here to give you my thoughts and feeling as whether this is the game for you.

THEME

Even though the game is set in a mythical location, it is easy to imagine to believe that this place is somewhere in South America. From the jungle on the box, to the mythical creatures that you can meet along the way, it makes me feel like I am a part of an Indiana Jones adventure where you are competing against other ambitious archeologists. The big difference is that they are Nazis, but your best friends gathered around a game table. You are not only required to send people out to various dig sites to see if you can find the resources that you need in order to make your way to the final goal, but you also need to complete research on a track that rewards those who do the work.

There are a lot of fun details that add to the storyline that is created during the play of the game. There are items, and artifacts that you can pick up along the way that can be used to improve your ability to outwit your opponents. There are also allies that give you certain privileges on the island that can improve your chances to be the most successful archeologist. Their smiling faces join you in your quest, and as you gain more knowledge about what you are looking for, they also gain in their abilities.

Michal “Elwen” Stach and Michaela “Min” Stachova designed the game with the theme in mind. Everything that happens in this game lends itself to the story being told. It really immerses you in the world they created. It does help that I get to play the game in a place that reminds me of this world, so I feel very immersed in that world already. Still, it is so well imagined that I do not think you have to be in South America to feel a part of the game.

Rating – 9

GAME PLAY

The Lost Ruins of Arnak has won a lot of awards after it was released, and that is mainly due to the unique way that it blended a couple of mechanics into a new game system that has never really been seen before. It feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. It will instantly become a favorite of anybody who loves worker placement games as well as the ones who love to deck-building. It all works together to create a Euro-game with many paths to victory that will keep players trying new ways to gather the most points possible.

The game plays out over a series of five rounds. During that time you have two workers that you can send out to various sites to gather resources. You do this by playing certain cards that you have in your hand that allow you to reach different sites. The easier sites are ones that you can walk to; whereas, you need a car, boat or plane to get to the sites that are further on the island. You also need to collect some compasses to make to the deeper sites. The resources that you can gather there are better, but they are also protected by creatures that protect the riches of the ancient civilization. You can befriend these creatures with resources or you can just sneak in, steal those resources, and retreat with a little more fear that gathers up in your hand making it less powerful.

Still, there are ways to get a more powerful hand. While going out to find artifacts, you gather up some gold that you can use to buy certain items that help you in your exploration of the island. These items give you special powers over the other players, and adds depth to your deck. There are also artifacts that have to be found from searching the surroundings, but the power they give is slightly better than the items. There are fewer artifacts than items at the beginning of the game, but by the end of they switch though you will have less time to play what you have picked up.

There is one more thing that you have to think about while playing the game, and that is the research track. Just like any intellectual doing research, there is a race to see who can get to the top first. It requires for the person doing the research to lose some of the resources they have collected along the way, but there are also rewards as you move up the track, more for those who move up it quicker. There are also a lot of points available if you make it all the way to the top of the track, so this becomes one of the central focuses of the game.

For the most part, there are a lot of twists and turns in how this game is played with many paths that can lead to victory, and a balance to try and control your options along the way. It makes for unique gameplay that you will not quickly forget about.

Rating – 10

ARTWORK

A crew of artists were employed to create the artwork for the Lost Ruins of Arnak though when playing the game, it does not feel that way. Ondrej Hrdina, Jin Kus, Filip Murmak, and Jakub Politzer had a single vision when creating the feel of this game. First off, the board is big, and you will want a good table that will be able to house all of the people on it comfortably. Still the spread of the board gives you the feel of a large island just waiting to be explored. It looks a little bare at the beginning of the game, but as more sites are uncovered, the board really starts to come to life with the hidden temples that can be found in the jungles, and the creatures that protect them. In games with higher player count, the board really comes to life by the end of the game, but this is not the same if you are only playing a two player game. In those cases, the board still looks empty by the end of the game.

As for the temples that you discover along the way, they are a lot of fun to look at. Each one has its own distinct feel, and when you discover it out in the middle of the wilderness, it make you feel like a true adventurer exploring some unknown island. The creatures that are protecting them add another depth to the immersion that this game holds. They look like something you would see crawling out of the Latin American jungle, complete with the mythology that would be found by the people who live there. The creatures do not come with names, but they have sso much personality that you feel like you should name them every time they pop up on the game.

A lot of the game involves iconography to dictate what certain cards or spots can allow you to do. There are a lot of them, and each player is given a cheat sheet to help them decipher all of the different icons. It does make the game easier to figure out, but the icons do not always clearly portray what they mean, so the first few games, you will spend a lot of time referring to this cheat sheet. It works well, but it is not always intuitive.

The playing pieces though are an absolute joy. The meeples are big and chunky. They look like mini explorers and make the perfect worker for this game. I enjoy the fact that they are made of wood, so they feel great when you get to hold them in your hands. The resources you collect are also a treat to handle. The arrowheads, gems, and tablets are made out of plastic, but it is fun to collect them, and place them in a pile of your game-board which, by the way, is painted like a base camp.

Rating – 10

INTERACTIVITY

Like most worker-placement or deck-building games, the interactivity level is pretty low. You are mostly concerned about what you are doing in your play area, and you don’t really think about what other people are doing. The biggest interaction comes when thinking about the places where you are putting your workers, the cards you are collecting for you deck, and the path you are traveling on to get the most points possible. If you take the spot that another person wanted, it could make things a little difficult for them, and it requires them to rethink how they are going to accomplish what they want to accomplish. There is also a little bit of a race element associated with the research track. If you are the first person to move up the track in certain places, you get a bonus. This causes players to put a lot of focus on the research track. There is also the bonus of the person that reaches the top of the track first, as they get a bigger bonus then all of the other who come in behind them.

Basically, this game falls into the range of your basic Euro-style game, where players have their own thing going on in front of themselves which does not have a lot to do with the other people playing the game. Yes, it is a little bit of a bother if someone takes a space before you can, but there are so many paths to victory that you can find another way to set you on the path to victory. I still have fun hanging out with my friends while playing this game, but it is not high on the interactivity scale.

Rating – 6

REPLAYABILITY

As there are many games to choose from on the market, it is important to know which games are not going to get stale, and you will want to bring to the table again and again. Some games come with more difficult challenges within the box to make the game exciting again for those who have played the base game too many times, and then there are other games who offer expansion sets that add new twists or make the game asymmetrical. The Lost Ruins of Arnak do both of these things. The kind publishers at CGE games understand that for a game to become iconic, they must offer this to their fans in order to keep their game in their minds for and on their tables.

The game itself comes with a two-sided board, the Bird Temple side, and the Snake Temple side. The Bird Temple side is what is recommended for anybody who is playing the game for the first time; whereas, the Snake Temple side is for the more serious Euro-gamer who wants to try out something a little more challenging. It also breathes new life into the game after playing the Bird Temple side for so long.

If you still want more to the game, there are four expansions available for the game. The most difficult to find, Surprise Shipment, is a mini expansion that only adds new artifacts and items to the game. It switches up the gameplay a bit, but not enough to make it a must buy. The other expansions add more depth to the game, and extend the table presence that it will have. The first is Expedition Leaders which adds asymmetrical gameplay with the starter decks for each player. It also includes new artifacts, items, guardians, and research tracks to spice up the game a bit. The Mission Expedition adds a campaign mode, and two other players that expands upon the asymmetrical gameplay introduced in the Expedition Leaders expansion. It also introduces a cooperative mode to play and new research tracks, and resources that can be used in any version of the game. The Twisted Paths expansion also adds new mechanisms as well as two new maps, and new temples. Each expansions adds new life to the game, and adds multiple ways to play this game so that it may never get old.

Rating – 10

OVERALL RATING

The Lost Ruins of Arnak is a great Euro-game that adds some new mechanics that changes things up to make it one of the most unique games on the market. It is fun to build your deck with unique items and artifacts while also gathering your resources and using those resources to bribe guardians, move up a research track and eventually find those ruins that have been lost in the depths of the Amazonian-like jungle. It is one of those games where the mechanics work well with the theme to create an immersive experience for everyone playing the game. It has the same complaint that most Euro-games have that you spend most of your time creating something on your own, and not interacting much with the others around you. At the same time, everyone leaves the game feeling like they are still friends, and in the end that is the thing that matters most.

I have a fond connections to the game, but at the same time, a lot of that might have to do with living in an environment much like the one that I am playing in. Still, I do not think that this matters much. The game has a great engine designed into that allows for fun turns where it feels like you can do so much, and it is dripping with so much theme that you do not need to live in South America to feel like you are there. It is easy to see why it has won so many awards, and I can see it lasting around for many years to come. It should easily find a way on to your shelf because while it is there it will make that voyage to your table on numerous occassions.

Overall Rating – 4.5 out of 5

Top Twenty Board Games Ranking – 2026

It has been another great year of gaming. I have played over 80 different games this year, and many of them new to me. I have also been able to play many campaign to their finish, and have gathered with many friends over the year while creating new ones through this hobby. This list has come out a little later than I would have hoped for because of travel, and the time it takes to put this list together. Once again, the list is comprised of my choices when put into Pub Meeple, the on-line service that helps me rank the games I have played. I have also placed next to them how their position has changed based on last year’s list, and it is always fun for me to visit this list every year as I hope it is fun for you to look at it as well.

20. Oath (Down 13)

This is not an easy game to get to the table, and it requires finding a group of people that would like to play it on a regular basis. Even when I do get it to the table, we have to review the rules again, and play with how fiddly they are, but I love the fact that this board creates it own history, and is an amazing way to tell stories. The last game I played told the greatest story out of any that this board has presented to me which makes me want to get it to the table more often. It sits here because I have moved away from my regular group, and I have not found that new group to play it with yet.

19. Dungeons and Dragons (Down 5)

This is the game that occupies the most of my time, and I really do enjoy the moments that I get together with my fellow players, and continue to experience our campaign. I did finish up one campaign this year, and started a new one, both with different parties. I also took up the mantle of being a Dungeon Master for the first time, and it does switch how I look at the game. It forces me to know more about the game than I ever have before, but I think I am doing a good job of adjusting, and there have been a couple of moments that have really stuck out in our campaign so far.

18. Scythe (Up 2)

This is another game that does not get to the table easily, but every time it does, I enjoy the experience whether I win or lose. The blending of area control with worker placement and Euro gameplay tells the perfect story of an alternative universe where mechs rule over the landscape of a post-World War I eastern Europe. There is not another universe of a completely original IP that captures the imagination of the players as well as this one, and I love the stories that

17. Sagrada (New)

I have been playing this game for years on my tablet. It has always been a fun little puzzle to ponder while traveling the world, but I had never played a physical copy of the game before. This year I came across a used copy of the game in outstanding condition in a 2nd and Charles store with the expansion included. Since then I have gotten this game to the table on numerous occasions and it is just as much fun using the physical copy as it does with the digital one, and the table presence is amazing as the colors of the dice really pop out. I can easily see this becoming a staple in my game play over the years.

16. Sylvion (New)

Recently I have gotten into solo gaming, and though it does not dominate my collection. Even though I have picked up a couple of news ones over the last couple of years, this was the first one that I have owned. It sat on my shelf for a couple of years, and I had forgotten about it, but I brought it out this year to play again. I had forgotten about how much I love this game. It is a great card game with big choices, and a story that unfolds as you play. I have not played all of the games in the Oniverse, but this is my favorite one, and can easily see it never leaving my collection.

15. Raiders of the North Sea (Down 2)

I first downloaded a version of this game to play while taking a trip to Iceland, and it has been a regular go to since. It is the first game that put Garphill Games on the map, and since its publication, they have created many other games that other consider the favorites. I have never had the opportunity to play any of these games, and I always want to explore them every year. Maybe this next year will be the one that gets me to try another one of their games, but until then Raiders of the North Sea is a great game to play.

14. Root (Down 11)

This is another game that I have never been able to physically play, and I have only played online versions of it. Just like the other Cole Wehrle game on this list, I could only imagine that it would be extremely difficult to get to the table because of its asymmetric game play makes it a difficult teach. Still, I have met many people who have spent the time to learn this game, and they all have it as one of their favorites. This is the year that I hope to get to play a physical version of this game and know the joy that comes from moving these cute woodland creatures around the game board. Until then, it still holds a prominent spot on my games of the year list.

13. Azul (New)

On an impulse buy, I picked up a travel version of Azul this year. I have played it a couple of times before, and have always enjoyed it, but it never was one of my favorite games. Since I have bought the travel version of the game, and have gotten to learn more about the strategy behind the game, I started to understand the genius of this abstract masterpiece. The travel version is a great way to enjoy this game, and it has always found a place in my suitcase ever since I have bought it. I have no idea how I have lived so long without it.

12. Everdell (Down 4)

This is always a comfort game for me. It is the game that got me back into the board-gaming, and when I have gotten a couple of expansions that allow me to make this game as simple or complex as I want it to be. I still believe that it has some of the best artwork in any of the games I have ever seen, and the cosy way that you build a small village for critters makes it a perfect addition to any collection that will have most people wanting to join in to play. I do not ever see this leaving this list by the sentimental factor that it holds with it.

11. Challengers: Beach Cup (New)

I usually do not like party games because they are usually silly and they do not have much strategy behind them. There is also a lot of sitting around, waiting for your turn, and after a while, they start to bore me. That is why I was so surprised when I was given the opportunity to play this game. It is a deck building game where you rotate around the room and play all of the people in a one on one game. It was surprisingly fun, easy to learn, and had enough strategy behind to make it feel like you were playing a real game. It has made me re-evaluate party games, and got me into the deck building games more than I have played in the past.

10. Long Shot

Speaking of party games with a little bit of a bite, Long Shot: The Dice Game easily ranks as the highest for me. Once again, this is not your typical party game. In fact, I think this one operates better in a pub than an actual party. It is not as fast as Challengers, but people really get involved in the horse that plays out in front of them. It is a goofy game with the perfect artwork to accompany the silliness, and it actually plays better at a high player count than other roll and write games. It also is small enough that it works well as a travel game, perfect to bring with you on those long trips.

9. Pandemic: Legacy Season 1 (Up 6)

Pandemic has always topped my list as one of the best cooperative games ever created. I have spent a lot of time playing it on my tablet, and I actually prefer to play it by myself because I have a habit of quarterbacking the game and ruining it for other people. Along comes a chance to play the legacy edition and it helped to alleviate this problem because each new month presents a new challenge with it. I loved this way of playing the game, and I might hunt down the other seasons to see how they breathe new life into a game already love.

8. The Crew: Deep Sea Six (Up 1)

After finishing the Search for Planet Nine the year before, I did not think that I would play the Crew again. Then I ran into new friends that had a copy of Mission Deep Sea. I had played this a couple of times and always considered it the better version of the game, but with them, I was able to push through a lot of the missions though we did not complete the whole campaign. I still consider it the best cooperative game out there, making it impossible to have anybody quarterback the game, and everybody has to play their part. It is also the most inventive use of the trick taking mechanic I have ever seen. This is a great game, and I can see it popping up again on the list next year.

7. Imperial Assault (Down 3)

I have played the opening missions for this game on numerous occasions, looking for a group of people that would want to play through the whole campaign. This last year, I found that group of people and was able to play through the whole campaign. It was a blast, and as they powered up, I was able to throw more dangerous things at them. It ended up being a great lite version of role playing, and dungeon crawling all set in the Star Wars universe. It made me want to try out some of the other campaigns that are out there, but I do not know if I will get the opportunity because I now have to find another group that might want to play the game. It took me years the first time around, and I expect that this could happen again.

6. Bunny Kingdom (New)

This was another game that was introduced to me by going to a game night. I did not know what to expect with this, but when I started to play, it became apparent that this cute game about carving out a bunny kingdom on a grid was more complicated and strategic than the artwork implied. I really fell in love with the game quickly, and we played it a couple of times that night. I won both the times I played, and that is not why it makes it so high on this list this year. I loved the fact that I took different paths to victory both times which showed me the depth that this game possessed, and I am sure it could get higher if I am given the chance to play it more often in the upcoming year.

5. Arkham Horror: The Card Game (Up 6)

This has been the game I go to when I want to play a good game, and there is nobody around to share the experience with me. I love the fact that it is complicated, has many different scenarios with their own intricacies making each one feel unique, and it tells a great story in the process as well. I have not dumped a lot of money into this game yet because the two campaigns I own have been perfect enough to keep me happy. I have played them each a couple of times, and I have not gotten bored of them yet. I have also found others who want to play the game as well, so it might change its place on my shelf as a solo game to a collaborative campaign style game that might change my view of it in the coming years, but as for now, it is easily one of my favorite games to play on a dark night when I have nothing better to do.

4. Heat: Pedal to the Metal (New)

I was never much one for racing games, but ever since this one made it to the store, I had an interest in playing. It was more about the deck-building then it was about the race, but when I finally played it, I found that the race is what really brought this game to life. The deck building is a brilliant way to get you to feel what it is like to be an F1 racer. It causes you to put together a nice balance between collecting the cards, speeding ahead, and trying not to lose control of your car. It also comes with different racetracks that if played together creates a mini-campaign. This game was an unexpected surprise this year, and I can’t wait to play it some more adding in the more complex additions that the game comes with.

3. Isle of Skye (Down 1)

This is still one of my favorite games. I love the feeling of piecing together my little corner of this Scottish island while connecting things to make it as pretty as it can possibly be. I know that this is not the strategy you should employ to play this game, and every time I start a new game, I think to myself that I won’t do this, but in the end, I always have to make it look pretty. The combination of the bidding and the variety of the challenges makes this game quick-paced and different every time I play it. It will take a lot to remove this game from this position on my list. My only complaint is that you need at least three people to play, and I think it works better at higher player counts, so I don’t get it to the table as much as I would like to.

2. Final Girl (New)

I went out searching for a new solo board game, and decided on Final Girl and decided on the Happy Trails Horror feature as my first box. I didn’t know how much it would get me hooked, but the simplest of games in this series had me playing it at least once a week. I have since expanded to the Panic at Station 2891 feature, and even just having two has given me enough material to keep me busy for a long while. I love the fact that you can change the final girl that you are playing with, or place a monster in a different location, giving the places their own feel. It is completely immersive and I feel as if I am in the horror movie that I am playing. I know I am hooked and will keep adding features as I play this game more and more.

Chinatown

I know that this game is out of print, and has been reskinned recently, but I still love the original Chinatown. It is a simple game that can be taught in five minutes, but it is the simplicity of the game play that opens the game up to a complex fun interaction with the other people at the table. It is a pure negotiation game, and the interaction is what brings me back to this game again and again. I have introduced it to so many people, and every time we play, we laugh so hard about the negotiations that take place. I do not care if I win or lose, I just want to negotiate. This is why this game has taken the number one spot again this year.