- Publisher : Catch Up Games
- Author(s): Johannes Goupy, Corentin Lebrat
- Artist(s): Maxime Morin
- Players : 2–6
- Playing time: 15–30 min
- Weight BGG : 1.90
What's this?
Faraway is a dreamlike exploration card game by Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat, poetically illustrated by Maxime Morin, and published by Catch Up Games. Players take on the role of explorers traveling the mysterious continent of Alula, a constantly changing land where seasons, regions, and creatures are constantly shifting.
How do you play?
A game of Faraway lasts 8 rounds. Each round follows a 3-phase structure :
1. Explore a Region
Each player selects a Region card from the three in their hand and plays it face down in front of them. Once revealed, it is placed to the right of the previous cards, forming a timeline of exploration. These cards show a biome (forest, river, desert, etc.), an exploration time, resources (animal, plant, mineral), and sometimes inhabitants with quests.
2. Find a Sanctuary
If the card played has a longer exploration time than the previous card, you discover a Sanctuary. The more clues you have accumulated on your cards, the more Sanctuary cards you draw and have the choice. You will keep one, which will offer you immediate or end-of-game bonuses , or even side quests .
3. Complete the exploration
Players, in order of increasing exploration time, choose a new card from those revealed in the center of the table to complete their hand. Then, those who have found Sanctuaries choose one to place. The round ends, and a new one begins… except on the 8th round.
End of game
Once you’ve played your 8 rounds, you’ll have a row of 8 Region cards and a few Shrines. It’s then time for the return journey : you turn over your Region cards and reveal them from right to left , as quests are completed in that order. You gain fame for each quest completed thanks to the resources visible at that time.
Whoever has the most fame at the end of the count wins!
Is it good?
The first quality that jumps out at you in Faraway is the originality of its reverse scoring mechanic, the true heart of the game. Here, the cards are played in one order, but scored in reverse order . This inversion requires players to plan carefully: if you don’t place your cards at the right time, you risk missing your scoring targets. This demanding and clever brain teaser may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer more direct or lighter games in their way of counting points.
And yet, Faraway remains a game with simple and quick to explain rules , which makes it accessible to a wide audience. It nevertheless offers an interesting progression curve , and strategic depth for those who like to optimize each move.
Visually, the illustrations are magnificent and very original . Maxime Morin manages to create a unique universe , both gentle and mysterious. While the theme remains rather focused on the mechanics , it still contributes to the atmosphere of the game.
Faraway can be criticized for its randomness in card drawing, limited player interaction , and an abstract puzzle that won’t be for everyone. But despite this, Faraway is a brilliant, clever, and elegant game .
I highly recommend it to those looking for a fast-paced card game , with real mental gymnastics , where each card must be placed at the right time to maximize its score.
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Faraway review
Positives
- Original reverse scoring mechanics
- Simple and quickly explained rules
- Strategic depth and good progression curve
- Superb illustrations and unique visual universe
- Quick game, short format and replayable
Negatives
- Chance in the drawing of cards
- Player interaction quite limited
- Theme poorly integrated into the mechanics
- Abstract puzzle that may not be suitable for all profiles
Breakdown
- Edition 9.5
- Mechanics 9.0
- Thematic 7.0
- Replayability 9.0
- Getting started 9.0
- Interaction 7.5
- Originality 8.5
