# Wondrous Creatures: Gargantuan Beasts ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2024 - **BGG Rating**: 8.2 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 40-80 min - **Weight**: 3.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Yeom.C.W - **Artists**: Sophia Kang - **Publishers**: Bad Comet, DSV Games, GaGa Games, Ogry Games, Samaruc Games, Strohmann Games, Super Meeple - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy - **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Open Drafting, Set Collection, Tags, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types ## Verdict For players seeking epic scale and new strategic challenges in the base game.Massive and impactful creaturesHigh strategic depthNew layers of planningRequires heavy resource investmentModerate language dependencyRECOMMENDED ## Description If you thought the world of Wondrous Creatures was already vast, get ready for a massive jump in scale! The 'Gargantuan Beasts' expansion arrives to inject a heavy dose of power and danger onto your tabletop. We are talking about creatures so massive that they don't just take up space—they fundamentally shift the game's entire dynamic. But don't be fooled: taming or utilizing these beasts is no task for amateurs. They demand meticulous planning and a heavy investment of resources. If you're careless, you might end up spending everything on something that fails to deliver the expected payoff. On the flip side, if you manage your workers effectively and plan your set collections wisely, these creatures can be the game-changer that turns an imminent defeat into an epic victory. The gameplay remains focused on that strategic resource management we all love, but now with the added weight of deciding whether it's worth risking everything on a colossal creature. Featuring refined worker placement mechanics and the use of different worker types, every round becomes a high-stakes puzzle. This is the kind of expansion that doesn't just add pieces; it expands the strategic horizon of the base game, forcing you to think much further ahead than just the next turn. If you enjoy that feeling of 'I'm about to control something legendary,' this expansion is your mandatory next step! ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Wondrous Creatures: Gargantuan Beasts, players explore islands to study massive mystical creatures that awaken when they are near others of the same species. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of these beasts, utilizing their unique abilities to earn victory points (VPs). The game ends when a player completes their fourth Major Achievement, and the winner is the one with the most VPs at the end of the count. Setup Shuffle the 14 Creature Cards from this expansion with those from the base game. Shuffle the 4 Captain Boards from the expansion with those from the base game. Follow the base game setup, with these exceptions: Place 1 Beast Card more than the number of players, with the Awakened side face up, forming a Beast Pile visible to all. Each player receives a Beast Tracker and places it on the first space of the Beast Track. Variant Rule: Players may choose Beast Cards in reverse turn order, adding 1 random card to the pile after choices are made. Refer to the manual for details on the base game setup. Gameplay Flow The game follows the structure of the base game, with alternating turns where players perform Basic Actions (such as "Place a Crew Member" or the new action "Gain a Beast"). Expansion highlights: Beast Track: Advance on it by playing cards with icons of your Beast's species, completing Achievements, or using specific abilities. Awakening the Beast: Upon reaching the end of the track, flip your card to the Awakened side to use its ability. Actions and How to Play New Basic Action: Gain a Beast Choose: Take 1 Beast Card from the pile and place it in your reserve (with the Dormant side face up). Limit: Each player can only have 1 Beast. Bonus: Gaining a Beast also unlocks your Captain's ability (if not already active). Advancing on the Beast Track Three ways to advance: Play a Creature Card with an icon of your Beast's species (+1 space). Complete an Achievement (choose +2 spaces instead of the standard reward). Use specific card abilities (e.g., Chimeetah advances +1 if there is a dormant Beast). Note: Cards with multiple icons only advance +1 space. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when a player completes their 4th Major Achievement. In addition to the base game scoring: Awakened Beasts: Each grants extra VPs at the end, based on the species icons in your reserve (e.g., Auravias gives +1 VP per Bird/Fish icon). Refer to the manual for details on the base game scoring. Tips for Winning Focus on species: Choose a Beast whose icons match the cards you already have to advance faster on the track. Swap rewards: When completing Achievements, consider advancing +2 spaces on the track instead of taking reward tokens. Use Beast abilities: Each awakened Beast has powerful effects (e.g., Poseidosaur provides discounts on expensive cards). Plan your game around them. ## FAQ ### Can I play this without the base game? Not at all! This is an expansion and requires the original game to function. ### Is the game much harder with this expansion? Complexity increases slightly due to the high cost of the beasts, requiring more strategic planning. ### Do I need to be fluent in English? There is a moderate language dependency. Having a translation sheet or translated cards helps significantly. ### How many players can play? The expansion follows the 1-4 player limit of the base game. ### How long does a game last? Expect something between 40 to 80 minutes, depending on your decision-making speed. ### Is it good for solo play? Yes! The game includes solitaire rules, and the expansion works perfectly in that mode. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6187130&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/76166/wondrous-creatures-gargantuan-beasts?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com