S3E39 - Golem

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas delve into Golem, a wonderfully intricate euro where ancient magic, precious marbles, and a whole lot of very important decisions come together. At the heart of the game is a fascinating action selection system that constantly asks you to weigh three competing considerations: which colour of marble you take, which action you perform, and how powerful that action will be. Getting one thing you want often means giving up something else, making every turn an exercise in finding the most satisfying compromise. And that's only the beginning. Golem weaves its interconnected systems together into a challenging strategic puzzle where choices in one area ripple through the rest of your game. It's demanding without being punishing, rewarding careful planning while still giving you plenty to chew on as your plans unfold. For Jordan and Thomas, Golem is exactly the sort of crunchy euro they love: clever mechanisms, interconnected systems, and just enough brain-bending decision making to make every marble count.