Expeditions: Revisiting the World of Scythe

When we first played Scythe, its stunning visuals and tense gameplay hooked us instantly. It became the game that made us realize: “Hey, we do enjoy complex board games!” Naturally, when Expeditions was announced, we couldn’t wait to dive back into this alternate 1920s universe, now with mechs exploring Siberia. But does this follow-up soar to the heights of its predecessor—or fall short of its potential?

Spoiler alert: It depends on who you ask.

What Is Expeditions?

At its core, Expeditions is a competitive, card-driven engine-building game set in the same world as Scythe. Players pilot mechs across a hexagonal map, exploring locations, completing quests, and battling corruption while chasing glory. The game ends when a player places their fourth star, triggering final scoring based on coins, completed quests, and upgraded items.

Turns are quick and strategic, with players choosing two of three actions—Move, Play, or Gather. This creates a satisfying rhythm as you balance resource management with the timing of your moves.

What We Loved

Adam’s Take: The production quality is exactly what you’d expect from Stonemaier Games. The mech miniatures are impressive, the hex tiles are thick and oversized, and Jakub Rozalski’s art continues to bring this world to life. I also loved the engine-building mechanics. Timing when to play, upgrade, and refresh cards felt like a rewarding puzzle every time.

Kelsey’s Take: The hex tiles make for dynamic setups, and the game looks incredible on the table. I also enjoyed the snappy turns—you’re never stuck waiting long before it’s your turn again.

What Fell Flat

Adam’s Take: While the individual puzzles are fun, the lack of player interaction was a letdown. Unlike Scythe, there’s no real tension or combat between players. I missed the thrill of outmaneuvering opponents. Here it just feels like a solitaire game with the occasional space blocked by a friend. The game also has a fairly large footprint. While this doesn’t have anything to do with the game play, it does require a fair amount of shelf space to store and the box feels a bit bigger than strictly necessary.

Kelsey’s Take: For me, Expeditions lacks the elements that make a game interesting and keeps me invested during the game. The theme felt disconnected, and end-game scoring was frustrating. I dislike when the player who triggers the end doesn’t feel rewarded—it unnecessarily lengthens the playtime as no one feels inclined to ever end the game. While this doesn’t make Expeditions bad, it greatly dampened the experience for me.

Final Thoughts

Adam: I enjoyed Expeditions a lot. The production, ease of play, and engine-building elements make it worthwhile and it’s a game I’d like to explore even more through subsequent plays. However, the lack of meaningful player interaction keeps it from surpassing Scythe. It’s staying in our collection for now, and I’d recommend trying it before buying.

Kelsey: Expeditions is a nice game, but it carries the weight of being compared to Scythe. While the puzzle aspect to it was fun, there really isn’t anything truly exciting that ever happens in the game. It feels a bit flatlined with a very anticlimactic finish. With limited time for bigger games, I don’t see myself ever revisiting Expeditions unless Adam asks to play.

Should You Play Expeditions?

If you love Scythe or enjoy engine-building games with minimal player conflict, Expeditions is worth exploring. Just know that it’s more individual strategy than war battles.

You can find Expeditions available here.

Game Info
Title: Expeditions
Players: 1-5 Players
Designer: Jamey Stegmaier
Artist: Jakub Rozalski
Publisher: Stonemaier Games

A special thank you to our friends at Stonemaier Games for sending this copy of Expedition for review. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.