Five Tribes vs. Planet

Attribute	Five Tribes	Planet
Designer	Bruno Cathala	Urtis Šulinskas
Year Published	2014	2014
Game Type	Strategy	Tile Placement
Player Count	2-4	2-4
Playing Time	40-80 minutes	45-75 minutes
Complexity	Medium	Medium

Gameplay

Five Tribes is a strategy board game where players take turns moving meeples around a grid of tiles, trying to collect resources and control different areas of the board. Each turn, players must strategically decide which meeples to move and where to place them in order to maximize their points. Planet, on the other hand, is a spatial puzzle game where players build their own 3D planet by drafting different tiles representing different terrains and trying to fulfill specific scoring conditions. The gameplay in Five Tribes is more focused on player interaction and resource management, while Planet is more about spatial reasoning and puzzle-solving.

Components

Five Tribes comes with a variety of components, including colorful meeples, tiles representing different resources, and a central board where players take their actions. The artwork in Five Tribes is vibrant and detailed, adding to the overall theme of the game. Planet, on the other hand, comes with unique 3D planet cores and magnetic tiles that players use to build their planets. The components in Planet are innovative and visually appealing, adding to the tactile experience of the game. Both games have high-quality components that enhance the overall gameplay experience.

Strategy

In Five Tribes, players must carefully plan their moves in order to outmaneuver their opponents and score the most points. The game offers multiple paths to victory, including collecting resources, controlling areas of the board, and fulfilling specific objectives. Players must adapt their strategies based on the actions of their opponents and the changing board state. In Planet, players must think spatially and strategically in order to build their planets efficiently and score the most points. The game offers different scoring conditions that players must consider when drafting tiles and placing them on their planets. Strategy in Planet is more about optimizing tile placement and fulfilling scoring conditions.

Replayability

Five Tribes offers a high level of replayability due to the modular board setup and the multiple paths to victory. Each game plays out differently based on the initial board state and the actions of the players. The game also offers different strategies to explore, keeping players engaged over multiple plays. Planet, on the other hand, offers replayability through the different scoring conditions and the variability in tile drafting. Players can experiment with different strategies and try to optimize their tile placements to achieve higher scores. Both games offer a high level of replayability and can be enjoyed multiple times.

Complexity

Five Tribes is a medium-weight strategy game that offers depth and complexity without being overwhelming. The game mechanics are easy to learn, but mastering the strategies and optimizing your moves can be challenging. Planet, on the other hand, is a lighter game that is accessible to a wider audience. The rules are simple and easy to understand, making it a great choice for casual gamers or families. While Five Tribes offers more depth and complexity, Planet provides a more straightforward and relaxing gameplay experience.

Conclusion

Five Tribes and Planet are two unique board games that offer different gameplay experiences to players. Five Tribes is a strategic game focused on resource management and player interaction, while Planet is a spatial puzzle game that challenges players to build their own planets. Both games have high-quality components, offer high replayability, and provide different levels of complexity to suit different preferences. Whether you enjoy strategic planning and player interaction or spatial reasoning and puzzle-solving, both Five Tribes and Planet offer engaging gameplay experiences that will keep you coming back for more.