WILDLANDS: THE ANCIENTS

The Martin Wallace card-based skirmishing game had missed a trick for a few of its outings – solo play. With The Ancients there is a full set of solo rules and five scenarios to get you started, plus, those solo rules can be used for two player co-op and with a bit of borrowing from other expansions you can even get to six players. Wildlands is fast paced and rewards clever and optimised cardplay, and these additional gameplay modes spark a series of new ways to play the game.

While we covered the entire catalogue of available Carcassonne expansions in issue 47 while celebrating its 20th anniversary, this is the one that’s a must-have for everyone. Adding new cathedral tiles which will improve the scores of your towns (if completed) and inns along roads to improve their scores too. Like the best expansions, this is one of those that you have forgotten is an expansion and not part of the base game. Essential to making Carcassonne the game it is today, even if it’s just a subtle and elegant step up.