- Publisher : Iello
- Designer(s) : David Bernal
- Artist(s) : Amelia Sales
- Players : 1–4
- Playing time : 120 Min
- Weight BGG : 3.83
What's this?
Salton Sea is an economic strategy game where players take on the role of entrepreneurs specializing in brine exploitation in the region of the same name, located in California.
How do you play?
In Salton Sea , the game is played over several rounds, with each player taking turns using their engineers to perform actions. Each round ends when all engineers have been used. Here’s an overview of the game structure:
🔧 Available actions
They are divided into 3 categories:
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Industrial actions :
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Acquire a drilling permit : to purchase new deposits.
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Drill : to descend into the layers of a deposit.
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Extract : to recover the brine.
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Process : To transform brine into lithium or geothermal energy.
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Repair the facilities : the drill and the plant may be damaged.
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Commercial actions :
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Sell your resources (to different companies with fluctuating prices).
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Closing a contract : adding one to your business.
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Honor a contract : Deliver the requested resources in exchange for rewards.
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Management actions :
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Develop an investment project : to free up engineers or expand your warehouse.
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Search : Obtain cards that offer immediate or permanent bonuses.
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Buy securities : in partner companies, earning points at the end of the game.
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Obtain financing : draw money.
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Repeat an action : reuse a location already used.
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🧩 The end of a round
At the end of each round:
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The engineers are recovered.
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Honored contracts and immediate research cards are discarded.
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The played action cards are taken back.
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The market is refreshed.
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The First Player marker moves on to the next player.
🏁 End of game and scoring
The game ends if:
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The deposit package is empty.
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Two companies have closed their doors.
Is it good?
Salton Sea is a demanding and tense Eurogame.
The game stands out in several ways, starting with its contemporary and original theme, centered on geothermal exploitation. This theme is firmly integrated into the mechanics: everything makes sense: drilling, extracting, processing, repairing, selling resources, and even concluding contracts. The actions you perform take on a concrete and thematic dimension, which reinforces the immersion.
Another major asset: its ingenious dual-use card system. These serve as both currency to fund your actions and powerful actions to trigger. Each turn, you’ll have to make difficult choices. Since money is very limited, the game requires careful planning and constant optimization. A single miscalculated decision can have significant consequences for the rest of the game. The game is very punishing, which may put some players off. Here, your neurons will be firing: Salton Sea is a real strategic puzzle.
This requirement translates into a steep learning curve, with a high risk of analysis paralysis. Players will have to anticipate everything and plan everything over several turns to maximize the effectiveness of their actions.
Production-wise, the material is of good quality. The sleek, pastel-toned design won’t appeal to everyone, but it does have the merit of readability. The compact box is well-stocked. On the other hand, the maintenance phase, particularly managing the card market, can be a bit tedious due to the numerous manipulations of small cards.
In short , Salton Sea is a challenging, rewarding, and cerebral management game designed for an audience of expert players and those who enjoy strategic challenges. Its dual-use card mechanics, original theme, and depth make it a memorable title. But its difficulty, punishing nature, and density will make it a game reserved for the most seasoned players.
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Salton Sea Review
Positives
- Original, modern and well-integrated theme
- Very clever dual-use card mechanics
- Excellent strategic depth
- Good quality material, well-filled box
Negatives
- Very punitive: a mistake can be costly
- Steep learning curve
- High risk of analysis paralysis
- Maintenance phase a bit heavy (especially the card market)
- A cold and calculating game
