Scythe: The Rise of Fenris – A Strategy Board Game Expansion That Reaps What It Sows

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Scythe: The Rise of Fenris – A Strategy Board Game Expansion That Reaps What It Sows

The Cardboard-Based Characteristics

Making a Great Game Better

Step into the dieselpunk dystopia of “Scythe: The Rise of Fenris,” where the line between strategy and sheer genius is as thin as the blade of a scythe. If you’ve ever wanted to combine the thrill of resource management with the satisfaction of outwitting your friends in a beautifully illustrated world, this expansion is your golden ticket.

I will not go over the base game of Scythe too much, but if you have never played it, what are you waiting for? Scythe is an action-selection euro game, set in a steampunk alternate universe that has variable end-game goals and light combat elements. All of this is stunningly brought to life by the fantastical artwork of Jakub Rozalski.

A Feature-Rich, Oil-Fuled Campaign

From the get-go, “The Rise of Fenris” doesn’t just expand the Scythe universe – it explodes it. With a narrative campaign richer than a Catan trade agreement and modular components ensuring no two games are the same, Fenris takes you on a wild ride through a plot twistier than a snake on caffeine. It’s not a true ‘legacy’ style campaign either, which is great, nothing is ever destroyed or changed forever.

The accompanying manual, which is beautifully written by the way, is chock full of lore and narrative. Not only for each of the campaign’s eight games but a massive prologue that gets you dug deep into the game’s amazing setting. Mech’s, Tesla and the leaders of men, I got deep into the narrative and atmosphere of this campaign. Its setting is superb and the art only elevates that. This game and world drips in theme like oil from a damaged mech.

Shhhhh, Spoliers!

I will not spoil too much in this campaign because let’s be honest, that’s why you play. There are boxes to open, new mechanics and persistent upgrades to acquire. I mean, you can open everything and just play Fenris like a modular expansion pack, but who wants that? Playing through the narrative, with its branching scenarios is superb and I could not stop playing until its thrilling conclusion.

The campaign mode, spanning eight thrilling games, turns each session into an episode of a Netflix series you can’t stop binging. It’s a saga filled with alliances, betrayals, and strategy so deep, that you’ll need a periscope. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Fenris drops a plot twist that makes you question everything – including your friendships. Not only that but some of the scenarios have multiple branches like the choose-your-own-adventure books of my youth and how you decide which path to take was as rewarding as it was surprising.

A Beautiful, Well-Rounded Setting

Visually, the game is stunning. The artwork is a masterclass in alternate history, blending rustic charm with industrial menace. The miniatures are so detailed that you’ll half-expect them to start marching off the board and into a full-scale war on your coffee table. It’s all thanks to Jakub Rozalski and his amazing visuals, they bring this alternate timeline crunching and whirring to your game room.

But it’s not just about looks. “The Rise of Fenris” adds layers of choice to the base game without upping the complexity too much, introducing new factions and units that will have you rethinking your strategies and perfecting your poker face. The new components are like adding hot sauce to an already delicious meal – they kick things up a notch and leave you coming back for more. I look forward to replaying the campaign at some point as it’s fully resettable, until then the modules I unlocked will add an extra dimension to non-campaign games. There’s even a little sneaky co-op module but I will leave you to find out about that yourselves.

However, be warned: “The Rise of Fenris” is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a game that demands your full attention, strategic mind, and a knack for negotiation. If you’re looking for a casual game to play while half-watching TV, this isn’t it. But if you’re ready to dive into a game that challenges you, thrills you, and occasionally makes you question your sanity, then grab your scythe and get ready to rise.

Cranking Scythe up to 11

In conclusion, “Scythe: The Rise of Fenris” is the kind of expansion that transforms a great game into an epic experience. It’s clever, it’s challenging, and it’s hilarious watching your opponents’ meticulously laid plans crumble before your eyes. If strategy games are your jam, then “The Rise of Fenris” is the strawberry on top – sweet, surprising, and utterly irresistible.

While playing this expansion I had to change up my playstyle regularly, depending on the scenario and board I was given. I also think this expansion addresses some players, not mine, shortcomings with the game. This expansion has a mech-load to offer and I think it may be one of my favourite expansions ever. It makes an already fantastic game richer and more diverse. It’s a no-brainer people, get into your mech, head to the shops and demand a copy of Scythe: The Rise of Fenris. You will not regret it.

5 out of 5

5

If you want to buy Scythe: The Rise of Fenris, you can from the Stonemaier website here.