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rating
Ludopedia
7.5
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
If you love Excavation Earth and crave more strategic depth, Second Wave is a solid upgrade for your collection!
Highlights
- More races and tactics
- Enhanced market control
- New scoring avenues
- Expands the base game
Keep in mind
- Requires the base game
- High language dependency
- Adds complexity
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Get ready to dig up more treasures with Excavation Earth: Second Wave, the first expansion that supercharges the base game! If you enjoyed the race for alien artifacts and the market competition, this expansion adds more spice with two new playable races: the Collectors, masters of gathering pieces, and the Influencers, who know how to manipulate demand. Each comes with their own powerful action cards, boosting your strategies and enabling unique combos. Second Wave also introduces the Observation Barge, a structure that gives you extra control over the market, allowing you to manipulate artifact prices and secure bonus points at the end of the game. For those who like extra challenges, Achievements bring specific goals to be met, opening up a new range of scoring opportunities and proving who truly knows their way around excavations. This expansion adds depth and replayability, maintaining the economic and hand management essence that made the original game a hit. It's the perfect choice for those who want to extend the fun and explore new tactics in this sci-fi universe.
GALLERY
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Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Mighty Boards, 2Tomatoes Games, Board Game Rookie, Matagot
Designer
Dávid Turczi, Gordon Calleja, Wai Yee
Artist
Philipp Kruse
Do I need the base game Excavation Earth to play this expansion?
Absolutely! Second Wave is an expansion, so it adds content to the base game. You can't play it without the original.
How many players does this expansion support?
It maintains the same player count as the base game, which is for 1 to 4 players.
Does the game's complexity increase significantly with this expansion?
Yes, a bit. It introduces new mechanics and options, which can make the game denser for beginners, but it's quite manageable for those already familiar with the base game.
What are the new races?
The expansion brings the Collectors and the Influencers, each with their own unique action cards that change how you play and score.
Is the Observation Barge important?
Very! It gives you more control over the market, allowing you to influence artifact demand and gain extra points at the end of the game.
Do I need to know English to play?
Yes, the expansion has a high language dependency. It's recommended to have the rules and cards translated to play smoothly.
Is it worth it for someone who already has the base game and wants more?
Totally! If you enjoy Excavation Earth's gameplay and want more variety, new strategies, and more ways to score, Second Wave is an excellent addition.