- Publisher(s) : Space Cowboys
- Designer(s) : Johannes Goupy, Yoann Levet
- Artist(s) : Arthus Pilorget
- Players : 2–4
- Playing time : 40 Min
- Weight BGG : 2.09
What's this?
If you enjoy placement and optimization games where every decision matters, Dewan might be just what you’re looking for. In this accessible strategy game, players take on the roles of tribes exploring a wild territory to establish camps, gather resources, and achieve personal goals. With a movement mechanic based on discarding Terrain cards and a race for increasingly scarce locations as the game progresses, Dewan offers a tactical experience where planning and anticipation are key.
In this review, we explain how to play Dewan , what the game is really like on the table and whether this new release deserves a place in your game collection.
How do you play?
1. Choose an action
In turn, a player must perform only one of the following two actions :
Take 2 Terrain cards
The player can take 2 adjacent Terrain cards from the available card row.
These cards are added to their hand and are primarily used for movement on the board.
Once the cards have been taken, the row is immediately replenished with new cards drawn from the pile.
This action allows you to prepare for future trips and optimize your journeys across different terrains.
Set up camp
The player can also decide to set up a new camp in the territory.
For that :
-
He chose a camp that was already present as his starting point.
-
He selects an empty square as the destination.
-
He discards Terrain cards corresponding to the spaces crossed , including the start and finish.
Certain specific rules apply:
-
A Water card allows you to cross an entire area of water in one go.
-
Crossing an opponent’s camp gives them the card used for that move.
-
The destination cannot be a water feature.
Once the cards have been discarded, the player places a new camp on the finish space.
2. Effects related to camp placement
Setting up a camp can trigger several effects:
-
Retrieve a berry if the area still contains that token.
-
Unlock an effect on your tribe board (depending on the number of the camp placed):
-
obtain a new History tile
-
Slide a Terrain card under your player board to gain additional resources or terrain.
-
trigger the end of the game with the last camp.
-
3. Validate the History tiles
At the end of his turn, the player checks if he fulfills the conditions of his Story tiles .
4. End of game and scoring
The game ends when a player places their last camp . All players then finish the current round.
Is it good?
Dewan offers a mix of fairly classic mechanics including hand management, tactical movement, objective completion, and a race for locations. The game is universally praised for one thing: its immediate accessibility.
On your turn, you must either draw cards or establish your camps. This second option relies on a movement mechanic involving discarding “Terrain” cards, reminiscent of Ticket to Ride . This system forces you to anticipate your routes and adapt your strategy based on the cards in your hand. While direct interaction remains moderate, the race for increasingly scarce locations as the game progresses creates constant tension. Competition for certain areas or resources generates interesting indirect interaction, particularly when you have to cross opposing camps.
The “Story” tiles add a personal objective dimension that guides players as they expand across the board. With a bit of luck, you might get objectives that share the same prerequisites, making your task easier. The real depth then comes from planning: you must optimize each camp placement to serve multiple objectives simultaneously.
We also appreciate the modularity offered by the different scenarios (Flood, Volcano, Lakeside Villages) which keep the victory conditions fresh. On the production side, the illustrations are magnificent and the components are of high quality, with double-layered game boards and wooden “camp” tokens in a variety of shapes.
On the downside, the theme quickly fades into the background, giving way to an abstract, calculating, and sometimes rather cold experience. There’s no real “wow” factor here; it remains firmly within the classic formula of old-school games . This will appeal to fans of strategy games but may leave others wanting more. Finally, the element of chance in drawing cards and assigning missions can favor certain players, which will prove frustrating for the more competitive.
Despite this, Dewan offers a smooth placement experience where using cards to move and complete objectives works very well. Accessible yet strategic, it’s a pleasant surprise for players who enjoy being rewarded for their anticipation, planning, and optimization skills.
If you enjoy the content and would like to support the site, please purchase your games through our affiliate links. The price remains the same for you, but it allows us to earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!
Dewan review
While the game remains somewhat abstract and occasionally requires calculation, it compensates with immediate learning curve and constant tension stemming from the race for locations. Thanks to its various scenarios and the variability of its objectives, Dewan offers a smooth and enjoyable experience that should appeal to players who enjoy optimization and strategic planning.
Positives
- Accessibility and fluidity
- The mechanics of camp placement
- Tactical depth
- Good replayability
- Quality materials
- Several scenarios
Negatives
- Dependence on the draw
- Very calculating and cold
- A theme that is fading away
- The frustration of areas that are no longer available at the end of the game
- Analysis of paralysis, sometimes lengthy
