Recs.
Updated
Splendor is an engine-building and resource management game for 2-4 players. The players take the roles of Renaissance gem merchants attracting the attention of nobles and buying transportation, shops, and gem mines to earn prestige points. The game is won by the first player who reaches 15 prestige.
Also available for Android and iOS.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro The visual design matches very closely with the actual physical version of the game
The layout of the board in the app and how you interact with it very closely mirrors how the game is laid out in real life, making the app an excellent way to learn the game and/or refine your strategies.
Pro Scales well
The game plays very well in the designated 2-4 player range. It has some nuances that depend on the number of players, for example, the amount of coins and nobles in play.
It’s possible to go past the 4-player maximum by getting another copy for more coins. Another solution would be to add something like poker chips or other types of coins to the game.
Pro Fine-looking artwork
Splendor’s artwork is follows a Renaissance theme and is quite detailed and beautiful. The cards of the game feature depictions of ships, gem mines, and shops from the era. The coins are colorful and have stickers on them representing the type. There are also portraits of historical figures on the noble cards, for example, Henry VIII, Isabel of Castile, and Elisabeth of Austria.
Cons
Con Luck of the draw
The building cards that are drawn from the decks are random, which means that the game can often boil down to top-decking a building that’s either very valuable or completely worthless to you or an opponent. The nobles are random as well, but they won’t impact the game as critically – they are there just to direct you to a goal.