If you already enjoy the vibe of building St. Basil's Cathedral in the base game, get ready, because the Contractors expansion arrives to take the experience to another level. The construction doesn't stop, and the goal now is to recruit the elite of Russian specialists to impress the Tsar with details that no one else could achieve. This expansion isn't just a small add-on; it brings an impressive amount of content, almost comparable to the original game, injecting new layers of strategy and depth.

The biggest novelty is the Contractors module, which introduces a map of Russia. Now, you don't just stay at the construction site; you send your Cossack meeples to the far reaches of the country to recruit artisans and specialists. This addition brings a worker placement mechanic, giving the game a fresh rhythm. Additionally, there are 10 new guilds that can be mixed with those from the base game. Since each guild has three different card variations, the combination possibilities are huge, offering about 30 different ways to set up your matches.

On the component side, the expansion adds a black die to diversify resource gathering and diamonds, which act as valuable wildcards for when you're in a pinch. There are also new blueprint cards and improvements for solo players. Visually, the game remains stunning, with art by Pedro Soto and Chema Román inspired by Ivan Bilbin's folklore style, maintaining the majestic atmosphere of ancient Russia. It is the ideal expansion for those who felt the base game was great but wanted more customization options and an extra layer of strategic interaction through talent recruitment.