Key Harvest

R&D Games, ABACUSSPIELE, Quined White Goblin Games · Board game · 2007
2–4 · best 3 90 min Weight 3.0/5
8.1 rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
Buy
8.1 rating Ludopedia
6.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you enjoy strategy games with a touch of bidding and territory building, Key Harvest might become your new favorite! It's the kind of game that makes you think about every bid and how to optimize your actions.

Highlights
  • Clever and engaging auctions
  • Satisfying territory building
  • Strategic action management
  • Worker variety
Keep in mind
  • Tile connection rules can confuse
  • Auctions can be slow
  • Limited direct interaction
RECOMMENDED
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About the game
Hey board game enthusiasts! Ready to get your hands dirty and expand your lands in Key Harvest? This is the fifth game in the renowned "Key" series by Richard Breese, and the objective is crystal clear: whoever racks up the most points wins the title of best farmer!

The game revolves around placing terrain tiles onto your own player board, which represents your country. The main scoring comes from grouping these tiles: your largest connected group earns you one point per tile, and the second largest grants two points per tile. And let's not forget the workers! Each worker you place on your board is worth points equal to the number on their tile. But watch out, they don't count towards connecting terrain, got it?.

Each turn, you get two actions and can choose from four options, performing each only once. Want to place a new tile on your land? Grab one from the "registry"? Or send a worker to perform a special task? There's even an option to "harvest" your already planted fields. A golden tip: workers activate special abilities, and if you can reposition them after placing a new tile, you might gain extra benefits. Mastering these moves is the key to success!

The bidding part is where things heat up. You can bid with your "crop counters" to acquire up to two terrain tiles at a time. If no one matches your bid, the tile is yours, and you pay the counters. If someone matches, you might get your counters back, and the tile goes to them. It's a game of bluffing and strategy to figure out how much it's worth to invest.

The game continues until the tenth event card is drawn, after which there are two more rounds for everyone to give it their all. In the end, whoever has the most of each crop counter type also earns some extra points. It's a game with a good dose of strategy, bidding, and territory building that will keep you hooked from start to finish!
Rules videos

In English

BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 REC
3 BEST
4 BEST
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Game details

Families

Digital Implementations: Yucata Series: Key (Richard Breese) Series: Master Print (Quined)
Publisher R&D Games, ABACUSSPIELE, Quined White Goblin Games, Rio Grande Games
Designer Richard Breese
Artist Juliet Breese, Mike Doyle (I)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average playtime for Key Harvest?
The estimated playtime for a game of Key Harvest is around 90 minutes, regardless of the player count (2 to 4).
Is Key Harvest a difficult game to learn?
The complexity is moderate. The basic rules for placing tiles and using workers are straightforward, but mastering the auction strategy and group scoring might take a few plays.
Does the game have a lot of player interaction?
The main interaction occurs during the auctions, where you compete for tiles. Beyond that, building your own board is more individual, but the competition for tiles can be fierce.
How many players does Key Harvest support?
It is designed for 2 to 4 players.
Who would you recommend Key Harvest to?
Recommended for those who enjoy games with worker placement, auction, and territory building mechanics, with an intermediate strategic weight.
What do 'crop counters' mean?
'Crop counters' are the harvest tokens, used as the main currency in auctions to acquire new terrain tiles.