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Scythe: Digital Edition

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
stability, story
90% User Score Based on 4,986 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSPCPCPhonePhoneWindowsWindowsMobile PlatformMobile PlatformTabletTabletiPadiPad
Buy Nowfrom $10.03
Buy NowGet on Steam€19.99Buy NowGet on Apple Store

About

Scythe: Digital Edition is a strategy board game where you command one of seven factions in an alternate 1920s Europe, each with unique abilities and specialties. Employ 4X mechanics to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate, while engaging in asymmetric gameplay to gain an edge over your opponents. Your goal: lead your faction to victory in this immersive digital adaptation of the beloved tabletop experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
Scythe: Digital Edition screenshot
+9

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,987 reviews
gameplay122 positive mentions
stability90 negative mentions
  • Great adaptation of the board game with beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.
  • The digital version streamlines gameplay, making it faster and easier to play without the setup and cleanup of the physical game.
  • Offers a variety of strategies and paths to victory, enhancing replayability.
  • The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics.
  • There is no undo option in online multiplayer, which can lead to frustrating mistakes that ruin turns.
  • The AI can be predictable and not very challenging, especially for experienced players.
  • gameplay
    352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the digital adaptation of Scythe is generally well-received, praised for its strategic depth and smooth mechanics, though it can be challenging for newcomers due to a steep learning curve and a somewhat confusing interface. The tutorial is helpful but inconsistent, often leaving players unsure about certain mechanics, while the game successfully retains the core elements of the original board game, making it easier to learn and faster to play. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and visually appealing, some users noted issues with clunky online controls and a need for better user interface design.

    • “The digital game has a great tutorial I'd recommend everyone to try prior to playing if you have no familiarity with this game. The resource management component and combat are very balanced mechanics.”
    • “The core gameplay is fantastic and implemented very well.”
    • “Scythe is a fantastic euro style 4x game with a gorgeous aesthetic and some great gameplay ideas coming together to form a deep and challenging strategy game.”
    • “The mechanics of the app can be frustrating at times.”
    • “This game has a very confusing interface and some ridiculous mechanics (when you produce you have to 'deselect' what you don't want to produce instead of select what you want to produce) that forces you to think twice instead of actually enjoy the game.”
    • “The tutorial is horrible for anyone not familiar with the actual board game and does not explain the game's numerous mechanics very well to the newcomer.”
  • graphics
    342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful artwork and detailed illustrations that capture the essence of the original board game. While some players appreciate the polished visuals and smooth gameplay, others criticize the graphics for being crude or outdated, particularly on lower-end devices. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is highlighted as a strong point, though there are calls for improvements in user interface and visual fidelity.

    • “It has seduced many newcomers and veterans with its beautiful artwork and enticing setting.”
    • “The graphics are extraordinary, the play is the same as the board game.”
    • “The graphics are superb and the developers have captured the elegance and visual appeal of the board game.”
    • “One might imagine that the digital medium would afford Scythe even more ease and vividness, but one would be imagining an adaptation that was not geared towards the most sluggish of smartphones: the graphics are crude, the figurines inanimate, and generally it all looks very state-of-the-art circa 2005; the viewscreen is cramped and the UI suffers accordingly, leading to an experience that is considerably less convenient and user-friendly than playing the physical board game.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre and the UI is not the greatest, but this is a good enough port from the board game to a video game.”
    • “It's a shame artwork was favored over playability.”
  • music
    216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric quality and distinct tracks for each faction, enhancing the overall immersive experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over extended play sessions, leading to a preference for muting it. Overall, while the music is generally well-regarded and adds to the game's ambiance, there are calls for more variety and options to manage sound settings.

    • “The soundtrack is largely fitting, and the sounds attached to each action selection are unique enough that, when AI turns are sped up, you can get a good idea of every AI player's turn just by listening.”
    • “Each faction has its own 20 minutes of music, each with their own very distinctive character, making each play-through feel immersive and quite different.”
    • “The music is incredible, and probably the best feature of the digital version.”
    • “The music is mediocre.”
    • “The only drawback is probably music that repeats during games.”
    • “The single musical composition that repeats during gameplay gets repetitive, so I've muted it.”
  • stability
    100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of frequent freezes, crashes, and desynchronization, particularly in online multiplayer modes. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game is too buggy to be enjoyable or worth purchasing at this time. Many users express frustration over the lack of a reliable gaming experience, highlighting the need for significant patches to address these persistent problems.

    • “Solid graphics, no glitches for me.”
    • “No glitches or freezes so far.”
    • “Seems to be bug free, and what can I say, it's Scythe. Scythe is a good game and just as good, playing a whole lot faster in the digital version compared to the board game.”
    • “The game freezes, crashes, and desyncs frequently.”
    • “Bottom line: this game is still too buggy to be worth purchasing or playing.”
    • “I would be ashamed to be paid 20 euros for a game so buggy that it is unplayable.”
  • replayability
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous asymmetric factions and combinations (25 base, 49 with expansions) that provide diverse strategies and paths to victory. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics and quick multiplayer options, making it enjoyable for both solo and group play. Overall, the game's design encourages experimentation and repeated play, ensuring it remains fresh and entertaining.

    • “Moreover, it is tremendous fun and immensely replayable; the action never goes slack nor will players find themselves mired in tedium.”
    • “With 7 factions, random objectives and encounters, and multiple paths to victory, there is lots of replayability.”
    • “It is a lot simpler than it looks, and with the different combinations of mats and just how many ways there are to win, this game is infinitely replayable.”
    • “Other than that, it's an interesting, if completely unexplained tactical game with a limited replay value.”
    • “I wish it was more playable.”
    • “I hope they eventually add the modular board to increase replayability.”
  • optimization
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally praised for running smoothly both online and offline, with players appreciating the strategic depth that requires forward-thinking and skill. However, some users report performance issues, particularly on certain devices, and express a desire for further optimizations to enhance the overall experience. While the interface is considered mediocre, the game is still seen as a worthwhile investment, especially when on sale.

    • “It is a game of optimization where you need to think at least 2 turns ahead.”
    • “Your performance is based entirely on your own skill and play.”
    • “It's an optimization puzzle with a map.”
    • “The worst thing about the game is performance.”
    • “The game performance lags on my Surface Pro 3 but worked fine streaming from my desktop.”
    • “The point-based victory is very hollow, more of a numbers optimization game than anything else.”
  • story
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story setting is intriguing, but players find it lacking in depth due to the absence of combat and communication, leading to a disjointed experience. The random elements and different factions add variety, yet the overly complex and abstract rules hinder effective storytelling. Additionally, the poorly designed tutorial missions fail to engage players, making it difficult to grasp the game's mechanics and narrative flow.

    • “The fact that you can play different factions with different strengths and weaknesses, and that the mission cards are random, means that no game is ever the same.”
    • “Interesting story setting, but no combat, no communication; just do your own business and then the game suddenly ends.”
    • “Interesting story setting but no combat, no communication, just do your own business and then the game suddenly ends...”
    • “What story does it tell?”
    • “More tutorial missions where you actually play the first few turns of a game in one continuous scenario or something to that effect would go a long way, versus the current iteration where you only get to play each mechanic in isolation.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its stunning music and fitting thematic elements, which enhance the overall experience. While the digital version struggles to replicate the immersive qualities of the tabletop experience due to a cumbersome user interface, it still manages to recreate the game's atmosphere effectively with its graphics and soundtrack. Players appreciate the atmospheric touches, including miniatures and 3D elements, which contribute positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “There's a lot here that adds to the tabletop experience including nice-looking miniatures, atmospheric soundtrack, and nice 3D touches.”
    • “Music is stunning, with great atmosphere that fits the theme.”
    • “I love the tabletop version of this game a lot, but this digital version is just not able to replicate its atmosphere because of its incredibly inconvenient user interface and opponents' action monitoring.”
    • “Extra slow animation, but it recreates the atmosphere of the game accurately.”
    • “Thoroughly enjoying this great board game, and the graphics, music, and overall atmosphere only enhance the experience.”
  • grinding
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, particularly in the digital version where UI issues and the lack of an undo button in multiplayer can frustrate new players. While the digital format automates many tedious calculations, enhancing the experience, it is criticized for being less valuable due to the requirement for each player to purchase their own copy. Overall, while some appreciate the automation, others find the experience can still feel unnecessarily laborious, especially during extended play sessions.

    • “The digital version is more tedious than an in-person game for this reason since the undo button (which is pointlessly visible all the time) is greyed out in multiplayer, and especially new players will inevitably make several bad mistakes not knowing how to navigate the labyrinth of UI mishaps.”
    • “Is it really just unnecessarily tedious Monopoly?”
    • “Which becomes very tedious if you're looking to play the game for any extended period of time.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely perceived as lacking, with players noting that it fails to deliver comedic elements despite its complexity and potential for fun. While some comparisons to other games like Catan suggest a desire for a more engaging experience, many users report that the game does not succeed in being funny, particularly in online sessions.

    • “If you like games such as Catan and are looking for a better, more complex, yet funny game, this is the one!”
    • “It's just not funny at all - of all the games by this publisher that I've played, I had 0 successful online sessions (both PC and mobile).”
    • “It's just not funny at all - of all the games by this publisher that I've played, I had 0 successful online sessions (both PC and mobile).”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users feeling it serves primarily as a cash grab due to a lack of ongoing development and persistent bugs. Additionally, the marketing strategy, which emphasizes conventional attractiveness, has been criticized as off-putting.

    • “However, this game feels like a simple cash grab by the publisher, as the game seems to have no further development, while still having plenty of bugs in it.”

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Buy Scythe: Digital Edition

20h Median play time
31h Average play time
1h Main story
67h Completionist
9-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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