SPLENDOR: DUEL
A real gem of two-player gaming
Designer: Marc André & Bruno Cathala | Publisher: Space Cowboys
What happened to trigger a wave of classic titles getting two-play only versions?
First Cosmic Encounter, Codenames and now the gem hustling Splendor has its own Duel version. What’s more curious here is how, unlike many duelling variants, Splendor already plays comfortably with just you and a friend.
For those who’ve never known the thrills of tabletop jewellery bartering, Splendor Duel sets the two of you as competing artisans living in through a non-specific Renaissance (though from the beautiful illustrations of gorgeous jewellery and well-dressed nobles, it’s likely the Italian one.)
Each turn players can either gain more materials or spend what they’ve gathered to complete a jewellery project card, not only putting you a step closer to victory, but also providing a permanent discount for future projects. Cunning players can find ways to chain discounts together to build a fancy fabrication facility Fabergé would fear.
This duelling variant does a great deal to shake up the original’s design. Gone is the option to pick and choose your gems like grocery shopping, instead tokens are randomly distributed on a 5x5 grid, placed in a spiralized order ensuring the board is restocked from the centre. You can either take a connected line of three non-gold tokens or one gold/wild token whilst reserving a jewellery card only you can now complete.
If unable or unwilling to grab tokens, you have the option to restock the board before you collect, but must give your opponent a privilege scroll as penalty. These scrolls let you grab any single non-gold token off the board, making each one a precious opportunity to leap ahead.
These two variations dramatically shift the game to better suit its headto-head format. Each turn becomes a series of internal debates, such as whether to take the row of gems that perfectly suit your plans, or the one that slices the remaining pool in half, forcing your opponent to respond. What further complicates matters are many cards having a completion bonus – like stealing a gem or gaining a scroll – expanding the range of options that could push you closer to victory. In addition to winning through prestige points, you can now also win by collecting enough crown symbols (said crowns also letting you choose Royal cards for a quick bonus of points and an ability) or by scoring half the required points but in only one of the five gem types. The best duelling games are ones where you’re just as invested in your opponent’s turns as your own and on this Splendor delivers in spades.
What further helps make this game shine is the high quality of visual design. Even when miniaturised, the gem poker chip tokens still have that tactile weight which makes stacking and gathering them as satisfying as amassing a tableau of dazzling jewellery cards. The privilege scrolls even feel like a privilege to own and whilst this might only excite me as someone very much ‘in deep’ to the board gaming hobby, the slick interior design and perfectly travel-sized box makes this game a joy to get out and put away.
On its own merits, Splendor Duel is a fantastic puzzle game that any pair of gaming chums would delight to own. If you’re looking for a refreshing way to revisit the original or prefer to game with one significant other, this game is a treasure trove of fun. But for those whose play group often accommodates more than two, you might struggle to justify buying this and Splendor for your collection, especially given how closely the two games are priced.
MATTHEW VERNALL
WE SAY
Whilst the original is still well suited for two players, this specially designed duelling variant adds enough variety to keep things fresh and perfect for gaming on the go.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
◗ Game board
◗ Victory tile
◗ Cloth bag
◗25 Plastic tokens
◗3 Plastic privilege scrolls
◗71 Cards
TRY THIS IF YOU LIKED PATCHWORK…
Another game that rewards pattern recognition and seizing opportunities, if you like your games a little more calculating than literally puzzling, Splendor Duel is a sound investment.