Scythe: Digital Edition
- June 13, 2018
- The Knights of Unity
- 20h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreScythe: 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.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Faithful adaptation of the board game with beautiful graphics and music.
- Great for practicing strategies and learning the game mechanics without the setup time of the physical version.
- Offers a variety of factions and player mats, providing high replayability.
- Clunky user interface that can be confusing, especially for new players.
- No undo option in online multiplayer, leading to frustration from misclicks.
- Frequent bugs and connection issues in online play, making it unreliable.
- gameplay176 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the digital adaptation is generally well-received, with many praising its smooth mechanics, beautiful graphics, and strategic depth that mirrors the original board game. However, players note a steep learning curve due to complex mechanics and a confusing interface, particularly for newcomers, despite the presence of a helpful tutorial. While the game offers a streamlined experience and quick gameplay, some users express frustration with clunky online controls and the need for clearer explanations of certain mechanics.
“The digital game has a great tutorial; I'd recommend everyone to try it 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 game are pretty simple, but their interactions give the game its complexity.”
“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.”
“The whole point of the game is to make simple things, like moving units, as convoluted and as difficult as possible, then sell it as 'gameplay'.”
- graphics171 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful artwork and detailed illustrations that reflect the original board game's aesthetic. 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 game's visuals are generally considered appealing, though there are calls for improvements in user interface and functionality.
“It has seduced many newcomers and veterans with its beautiful artwork and enticing setting.”
“The digital edition maintains the beautiful artwork and detailed illustrations that the physical board game is known for.”
“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.”
“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.”
- music108 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
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 time, leading them to mute it during gameplay. Overall, while the music is generally well-regarded for its fitting ambiance and thematic relevance, opinions vary on its repetitiveness and personal taste.
“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 playthrough 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.”
“Finally, the music sounds like an old civil war ballad which wouldn't be so bad, but it sounds like (and I think is?) just one 6 minute song on repeat.”
- stability50 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
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 plagued by bugs that significantly hinder gameplay, making it unworthy of purchase or play at this time. Many users express frustration over the lack of a reliable experience, especially in online settings, where glitches and connection problems are prevalent.
“Pretty, bug-free, and has multiplayer.”
“Solid graphics, no glitches for me.”
“No glitches or freezes so far.”
“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.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its asymmetric factions, numerous combinations of strategies, and varied paths to victory. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics and the ability to experiment with different faction and mat combinations, which significantly enhance the game's longevity and enjoyment. Overall, it is considered a complex yet accessible game that remains fresh and entertaining through multiple playthroughs.
“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.”
“Just 2 games in and it looks like there are so many starting and strategy combos that you'll get tons of replayability out of the game.”
“Other than that it's an interesting, if completely unexplained tactical game with a limited replay value.”
“I wish it was more playable.”
“It's replayability certainly keeps it high on my list.”
- optimization23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization aspect of the game is a mixed bag. While many users appreciate the strategic depth and smooth online play, there are notable concerns regarding performance, particularly on certain devices, and the interface could use improvement. Some players have reported that recent updates negatively impacted functionality, suggesting that further optimization is needed for an enhanced experience.
“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 point-based victory is very hollow, more of a numbers optimization game than anything else.”
“Feel like some performance optimizations could be had for a better experience.”
“The worst thing about the game is performance.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as having an interesting setting with endless random elements, but it suffers from a lack of engaging narrative and poor tutorial implementation. Players feel that the abstract rules hinder storytelling, and the disjointed tutorial missions fail to effectively introduce the game's mechanics, leading to frustration and confusion. Overall, while the potential for varied gameplay exists, the execution leaves much to be desired in terms of narrative coherence and player guidance.
“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 or communication; you just do your own business and then the game suddenly ends.”
“Interesting story setting, but there's no combat or communication; you just do your own business and then the game suddenly ends.”
“What story does it tell?”
“Unfortunately, I couldn't even make it through all the tutorial missions, which I believe were implemented poorly, as I was unable to click on or select exactly what the tutorial wanted me to do.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its stunning music and immersive elements that enhance the overall experience, particularly in the tabletop version. While the digital adaptation struggles with user interface issues, it still manages to recreate the game's atmosphere through its graphics and soundtrack. Overall, the atmospheric components, including visuals and audio, contribute significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
“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.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the digital version of the game automates many tedious aspects, making it less cumbersome than the tabletop version, it still suffers from issues like a non-functional undo button in multiplayer and potential performance problems. Players find the experience can become tedious, especially for newcomers, and the requirement for each player to purchase their own copy diminishes its value. Overall, the game balances automation with some frustrating elements that can detract from the enjoyment.
“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.”
- humor3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Users have mixed feelings about the humor in the game; while some find it complex yet amusing, others feel it lacks humor entirely, with one reviewer noting a disconnect between the game's mechanics and its comedic potential. Overall, the humor does not resonate strongly with all players, leading to a varied reception.
“If you like games such as Catan and are looking for a better, more complex, yet funny game, this is the one!”
“The upgrade action was a bit confusing; only after a couple of uses did I understand that you pick up one upgrade from the top row and one from the bottom row, which is, funny enough, much clearer with the physical board game.”
“It's just not funny at all.”
“Of all the games by this publisher that I played, I had 0 successful online sessions (both PC and mobile).”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users feeling it prioritizes profit over quality, as evidenced by a lack of ongoing development and persistent bugs. Additionally, the marketing strategy, which emphasizes superficial appeal, 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.”
“I ignored this for a long time because it struck me as overcomplicated, and the advertising focusing on 'conventionally attractive young women' is actively a turn-off.”
