Caverna: The Cave Farmers

Lookout Games, 999 Games, CrowD Games · Board game · 2013
1–7 · best 4 Solo 30–210 min Weight 3.8/5
8.8 rating Ludopedia
7.9 rating BGG
8.8 rating Ludopedia
7.9 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you're a fan of deep worker-placement games with a strong sense of progression and resource management, Caverna: The Cave Farmers offers a rich, expansive experience that builds wonderfully on its predecessors. It's perfect for those who enjoy cultivating both a farm and a cave, with plenty of strategic choices.

Highlights
  • Expansive worker placement with diverse strategies
  • Satisfying progression of cave and farm
  • Engaging dwarf family and expedition mechanics
  • High replayability with many paths to victory
Keep in mind
  • Can be overwhelming for new players
  • Longer playtime, especially with more players
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our interactive rules guide and exclusive illustrated infographic.
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About the game
Get ready for an underground and rural adventure in Caverna: The Cave Farmers, a worker-placement game that takes the essence of its predecessor, Agricola, and expands it with new possibilities. Here, you take on the role of the bearded leader of a small dwarf family, living in a cave in the mountains. Starting with a farmer and their spouse, each member of your dwarf family represents a valuable action you can take each turn. Your mission is twofold: cultivate the lush forest in front of your cave while simultaneously digging deeper into the mountain. Inside the cave, you can create cozy dwellings for new dwarves and also workspaces for your small enterprises. Mining ore is crucial, as it allows you to forge powerful weapons. With these, your dwarves can embark on exciting expeditions, yielding bonus items and extra actions. During excavation, you might discover water sources, ore mines, and even precious rubies, increasing your wealth. Outside, on the surface, agriculture is key to prosperity. Cut down trees to create fertile fields and build fences for pastures, where your animals can thrive. As your farm grows, your family can also expand, broadening your action options. The ultimate goal is to develop your personal player board as efficiently as possible, ensuring victory. Caverna also offers a solo variant, perfect for familiarizing yourself with the 48 different furnishing tiles that can decorate your cave. With roughly 30 minutes per player, this game is a complete redesign of Agricola, swapping the card decks for a building system and adding the exciting mechanic of forging weapons and sending dwarves on quests. Designer Uwe Rosenberg emphasizes that while the game retains elements of Agricola, it brings significant innovations, especially in the cave part, with its mines and ruby searching, as well as the introduction of new animals like dogs and donkeys.
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Caverna: The Cave Farmers English · PDF
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BEST PLAYER COUNT
1 REC
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST
5 REC
6 OK
7 OK
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Game details

Families

Animals: Cattle / Cows Animals: Dogs Animals: Donkeys Animals: Sheep Animals: Wild boar Components: Gems/Crystals
Publisher Lookout Games, 999 Games, CrowD Games, Devir, Filosofia Éditions, Funforge
Designer Uwe Rosenberg
Artist Javier González Cava, Klemens Franz
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Caverna support?
Caverna is super versatile! You can play it solo or with up to 7 players. It's great for those who enjoy playing with a group or tackling an individual challenge.
What is the average duration of a Caverna game?
Game time varies quite a bit. For one player, it might be around 30 minutes, but with 7 people, it can extend to 210 minutes. It's a good idea to set aside plenty of time for your session!
Is Caverna a complex game?
It's considered a medium-heavy game, with a complexity rating of 3.78/5 on BGG. It offers many options and strategies, making it ideal for those who already have some experience with more robust board games.
What are the main components of the game?
Caverna is packed with components! You'll find individual player boards, wooden pieces for dwarves and animals (dogs, donkeys, sheep, cattle, wild boars), resources like wood, stone, ore, rubies, grain, and vegetables, plus many furnishing tiles for your cave.
Is Caverna similar to Agricola?
Yes, it's considered a redesign of Agricola, maintaining the essence of worker placement and farming. However, Caverna replaces cards with a building system and adds cave exploration, weapon forging, and quests, offering a more expansive experience with less focus on punishment for not feeding the family.
Do I need to know English to play Caverna?
Language dependency is moderate. While components don't have much text, the rules and some furnishing tiles might require consultation. A translated sheet or cards can greatly help for a smooth experience.
Who is Caverna: The Cave Farmers for?
It's perfect for players who love deep strategy games, worker placement, and resource management, especially those who enjoyed Agricola but are looking for more options and a slightly more 'generous' path to victory. If you enjoy building your own engine and seeing your farm and cave thrive, this is your game!