For my wife and I, this is our favorite game to play together. We have played scores of different games over our nearly 40 years of marriage, and this is still her absolute favorite game. She probably plays 10 games or more each day on the app. The app is very well done, but I still love the experience of playing it IRL. Shuffling has never bothered us.
Dominion saved me from the downward spiral of MTG. Mtg and wizards of the coast slowly started killing the way mtg was meant to be played and sucked the fun out of it. Creating a game that was focused on the lootbox micro transactional feeling rather than the gameplay and quality. Dominion gave me a game I could go to when I need that high of combos. Or that high of drawing the perfect hand. It hits all the right notes.
Great review! Still love Dominion as well. I haven't played many fixed market deck builders other than Dominion as most of them tend to have a River of cards (Clank!, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Dune Imperium, etc.). Thanks for the recommendations.
I use Seaside + Plunder + Base Cards. I also picked up the Black Market promo and my black market deck is made up of the 8 first edition cards which were removed (2 copies of each). It’s enough for me, it’s thematic and all fits in one box. If they release another pirate/seafaring/port town expansion, I’ll probably pick that up too. I’ve considered picking and choosing single cards from other expansions that fit thematically. But that would be expensive… 😅
I have a Big Box of Dominion with Alchemy and Prosperity all in the same box and I feel like it has PLENTY of Dominion play in it such that I have not had to buy any other expansions. I also like that the one box I have holds all the cards without worrying what to do with them.
This is one where I judged the game on its art and never played it until recently I tried it on Steam and it’s amazing! I don’t think I’ll get the physical version but I plan on slowly buying the dlc on steam and convincing friends to try it out
Have you tried heart of crown? It’s also a deck building game. I call it the anime version of dominion, however, I know for some the anime art can be a turn off.
I’m curious as to whether Alex has an opinion of Dominion vs Heart of Crown, especially in light of the latter just having a Kickstarter conclude for version 2 of the game.
Dominion is my favorite game -- I prefer this type of deckbuilder to Magic (even though I also played MTG back in the day). My family will play it with me on Mothers Day and my birthday every year
I consider part of the cost of Dominion to be buying sleeves for the cards. Which adds something like $30 to the cost of each big expansion. Not necessary if you don't sleeve, but the game does put a lot of wear on cards, especially the base cards, if you don't.
Interestingly -- my Dominion cards have held up WAY better than Hero Realms (Which we had to replace after about 6 months of playing due to the number of marked cards due to wear)
I think it's cheaper to buy new base cards after some years instead of sleeves for every card. Especially if you have 8+ expansions like me :D So far I have never needed to buy new cards for anything, despite buying all but one set in used condition.
I really like this game but the visuals are extremely outdated and are not appealing anymore. They should really do some sort of reprint. Also those +X Actions cards like the village are annoying.
In my opinion, it didn't age well and is now surpassed by a lot of modern deck building games. The art looks old, the theme is transparent, the big money strategy wins most times except if you attack your opponent continuously which is just super annoying. Very repetitive, needs lots of expensive extensions to add replayability. Just the business model is not appealing to me... I think nostalgia is what makes this game good for people.
Big money is not so strong on most kingdoms. Although I won't deny there are some where it is the best strategy, on most it isn't. Knowing when to go for it and when not is part of the fun.
Back when Magic came out, they called it deck building. The first few games I ever played were more pure deck building. My friend went to a convention and got some magic cards in her goodie bag -- and went around to other fans there "taking those unwanted Magic cards off your hands" for people who were not interested. Then came home and we played Magic together using the deck of all the cards she got at the con. Both of us drew from the same deck. Then later we split up the cards to each make our own decks from the limited set (because it was COMPLETELY unavailable in the stores. The one I went to had not even heard of "Magic: the gathering") SO for a few weeks until we could order more from Wizards of the Coast, that's how we played.
For my wife and I, this is our favorite game to play together. We have played scores of different games over our nearly 40 years of marriage, and this is still her absolute favorite game. She probably plays 10 games or more each day on the app. The app is very well done, but I still love the experience of playing it IRL. Shuffling has never bothered us.
...There's a Dominion app?
And as I read this I am installing the app! I didn't know about it!
Dominion saved me from the downward spiral of MTG. Mtg and wizards of the coast slowly started killing the way mtg was meant to be played and sucked the fun out of it. Creating a game that was focused on the lootbox micro transactional feeling rather than the gameplay and quality. Dominion gave me a game I could go to when I need that high of combos. Or that high of drawing the perfect hand. It hits all the right notes.
Great review! Still love Dominion as well. I haven't played many fixed market deck builders other than Dominion as most of them tend to have a River of cards (Clank!, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Dune Imperium, etc.). Thanks for the recommendations.
Such a FANTASTIC Game! I have WAY TOO MUCH, but we love playing it.
Yep!
What sleeve size do you need to get to pack in the 10 cards for each kingdom?
I'm also interested in sleeving my different kingdom cards using the same method!
Not forgetting that you can play with 5 or 6 players if you have the additional base cards.
I use Seaside + Plunder + Base Cards. I also picked up the Black Market promo and my black market deck is made up of the 8 first edition cards which were removed (2 copies of each). It’s enough for me, it’s thematic and all fits in one box.
If they release another pirate/seafaring/port town expansion, I’ll probably pick that up too.
I’ve considered picking and choosing single cards from other expansions that fit thematically. But that would be expensive… 😅
The mobile app is good too. Although I have to turn the AI way down to win.
I have a Big Box of Dominion with Alchemy and Prosperity all in the same box and I feel like it has PLENTY of Dominion play in it such that I have not had to buy any other expansions. I also like that the one box I have holds all the cards without worrying what to do with them.
Best deck builder of all time. I have more than 400 games of it.
This is one where I judged the game on its art and never played it until recently I tried it on Steam and it’s amazing! I don’t think I’ll get the physical version but I plan on slowly buying the dlc on steam and convincing friends to try it out
Any chance you will be doing “heroes of the sanctum” preview or thoughts or anything? It’s a small kickstarter but seems like big ideas.
Dominion is an awesome game
Have you tried heart of crown? It’s also a deck building game. I call it the anime version of dominion, however, I know for some the anime art can be a turn off.
I’m curious as to whether Alex has an opinion of Dominion vs Heart of Crown, especially in light of the latter just having a Kickstarter conclude for version 2 of the game.
Dominion is my favorite game -- I prefer this type of deckbuilder to Magic (even though I also played MTG back in the day). My family will play it with me on Mothers Day and my birthday every year
I consider part of the cost of Dominion to be buying sleeves for the cards. Which adds something like $30 to the cost of each big expansion.
Not necessary if you don't sleeve, but the game does put a lot of wear on cards, especially the base cards, if you don't.
Interestingly -- my Dominion cards have held up WAY better than Hero Realms (Which we had to replace after about 6 months of playing due to the number of marked cards due to wear)
I think it's cheaper to buy new base cards after some years instead of sleeves for every card. Especially if you have 8+ expansions like me :D
So far I have never needed to buy new cards for anything, despite buying all but one set in used condition.
Alex, I would be curious to your reasons why Aeon's End didn't resonate with you. I must say I like a lot better than Dominion
Did you back/ play robot quest arena
I really like this game but the visuals are extremely outdated and are not appealing anymore. They should really do some sort of reprint.
Also those +X Actions cards like the village are annoying.
In my opinion, it didn't age well and is now surpassed by a lot of modern deck building games. The art looks old, the theme is transparent, the big money strategy wins most times except if you attack your opponent continuously which is just super annoying. Very repetitive, needs lots of expensive extensions to add replayability. Just the business model is not appealing to me... I think nostalgia is what makes this game good for people.
Big money is not so strong on most kingdoms. Although I won't deny there are some where it is the best strategy, on most it isn't. Knowing when to go for it and when not is part of the fun.
bandit and corsair would like to have a word with your big money strategy
Magic is actually "deck construction," compared to "deck building" in the case of Dominion and the like
Back when Magic came out, they called it deck building. The first few games I ever played were more pure deck building. My friend went to a convention and got some magic cards in her goodie bag -- and went around to other fans there "taking those unwanted Magic cards off your hands" for people who were not interested. Then came home and we played Magic together using the deck of all the cards she got at the con. Both of us drew from the same deck. Then later we split up the cards to each make our own decks from the limited set (because it was COMPLETELY unavailable in the stores. The one I went to had not even heard of "Magic: the gathering") SO for a few weeks until we could order more from Wizards of the Coast, that's how we played.
Way too much shuffling. it's a game of shuffling...