Arcs: Conflict & Collapse in the Reach (2024)

Shut Up & Sit Down enthusiastically declares Arcs to be 2024's best new board game, praising its innovative yet sharply considered design as a modern classic and a rarity that should be cherished.

“As sure as anything I’ve ever played, the Arcs campaign is a masterpiece. I hated every second of it.”

The reviewer expresses extreme excitement for Arcs, highlighting its semi-cooperative gameplay, appealing artwork, and intriguing simultaneous action system as key reasons for it being the most anticipated game on their list.

“Arcs is not the first game to try and balance challenging strategic elements with the classic fun of negotiation and dice-rolling, but it’s a very tough task to get it right. Arcs nails it.”

The reviewer enthusiastically praises Arcs, calling it an "absolute banger" and potentially Leder Games' strongest design yet, highlighting its accessibility, cunning design, and robust performance at lower player counts.

“The Blighted Reach is simply one of the most mind blowing gaming experiences I have ever had. Every twist and turn of the Fates delighted me.”

“Arcs, c’est la dernière pépite de Leder Games, les créateurs de Root, Fort, et Ahoy, rien que ça. Déjà disponible aux US, Arcs n’est rien de moins que la sensation de 2024, le titre étant unanimement salué par la critique comme l’un des jeux les plus marquants de ces dernières années, voire la plus grande réussite de Leder Games… oui oui, encore mieux que Root !”

“I had a chance to play it multiple times and was quickly enamored by it. I got hooked from the start and very much liked the innovative mechanics and fresh design!”

“Arcs is a remarkable achievement in board game design, offering a deep and engaging experience that combines strategic gameplay with rich storytelling. It is a game that rewards careful planning, tactical thinking, and clever diplomacy, all while immersing players in a vibrant and living universe.”

Rahdo considers Arcs: Conflict & Collapse in the Reach to be a very good space strategy game, even calling it the best game he played in its release year, finding it brutal, unforgiving, and worth the hype, though he acknowledges its confrontational nature means it won't appeal to everyone.

“In a format that never fails to surprise me even after all these years, Arcs is one of the tallest peaks I’ve encountered yet.”

The Dice Tower reviewers generally recommend 'Arcs' as an outstanding and highly approachable space conquest game, praising its tight design, engaging card play, and enjoyable player agency in combat and resource management, despite some finding resource management a bit tight or disliking the trick-taking element.