Raiders of Scythia is a board game that takes players into the ancient steppe civilization of the Scythians—nomadic warriors renowned for their horsemanship, archery, and raiding. It is a strategic game featuring worker placement and raiding mechanics, and serves as a spiritual successor to Raiders of the North Sea, with a stronger thematic focus and additional gameplay elements.

In the game, you take on the role of a Scythian warband leader striving for glory and wealth by raiding foreign lands. Players assemble their crew of warriors, gather resources such as kumis, horses, eagles, and wagons, and set out on raiding campaigns across a map depicting an ancient landscape. The visual style is more subdued and tactical than its Viking predecessor, portraying the Scythians as calculated and precise fighters.

On a turn, each player places one worker on an action space and then retrieves another, triggering two actions. The color of the worker affects the strength and availability of actions. To launch raids, players must gather sufficient crew members, wagons, and provisions. Raids yield loot, victory points, and sometimes wounds to crew members. Team members and heroes provide special abilities, increase the warband’s strength, or grant additional actions. In addition to raiding, players can complete quests that award points and help trigger the end of the game. Each hero and crew member has unique abilities, allowing for diverse strategies.

If you’re looking for a game that combines tactical depth, historical theme, and tense player interaction, Raiders of Scythia is an excellent choice for strategic evening sessions. 🏹