84

At the Gates of Loyang is a classic economic strategy and farming game by acclaimed designer Uwe Rosenberg. Players manage their fields to produce goods, which are then sold to various customers to generate cash flow. It is known for being a tight, almost ruthless puzzle about resource management and timing.

84

The Verdict

based on 14 reviews

Positive 0%
Unique and tense card drafting/distribution mechanism that provides interesting decisions.
Features a tight economic engine and satisfying resource management, requiring careful planning to maximize profit and prosperity.
Offers an excellent and engaging solo play experience, with many reviewers considering it a highlight.
Provides relaxing, puzzle-like gameplay with a rewarding sense of engine building as players cultivate fields and serve customers.
Deep strategic decisions around fulfilling customer orders (casual vs. regular) and efficiently buying prosperity points.
Can suffer from significant downtime at higher player counts, particularly with four players, and may feel less engaging.
Player interaction is limited, leading some to describe it as a 'multiplayer solitaire' experience.
The farming theme, while consistent with other Rosenberg titles, may not be universally appealing or feel somewhat generic to some players.
Luck of the card draw can occasionally create frustrating setbacks that are difficult to overcome in a given round.
100
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Cardboard ClashArticle

The reviewer highly praises At the Gates of Loyang, calling it a unique and engaging Uwe Rosenberg design, particularly for its tight economy, difficult decisions, and clever solo market grid. Despite its longer playtime, they found it a tense and rewarding solo experience.

95
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The Dice Tower, Robert GeistlingerVideo

Robert Geistlinger provides an overview of the buying and trading mechanisms in At the Gates of Loyang, culminating in his final thoughts on the game. The review covers the game's flow and overall experience.

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Zatu GamesArticle

The reviewer highly recommends this 'tight' farming game, praising its enduring quality and strategic depth even after ten years. They highlight the impactful decisions, the tension of the card drafting, and the close final scores as key strengths, finding it a challenging and enjoyable experience.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Board Gaming Ramblings, Robert GeistlingerVideo

The reviewer highly praises "At the Gates of Loyang," particularly highlighting its excellent solo play and overall enjoyable gameplay, though noting that the four-player rules are a bit unusual. They find that while initial scoring balance might be tricky, it becomes intuitive with experience.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Gameosity, Rob RichArticle

Gameosity highly recommends 'At the Gates of Loyang,' a captivating economic engine game with unique card drafting. Its exceptionally enjoyable solo mode makes it a compelling puzzle, worthy of ownership for that experience alone.

85
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Tabletop Bellhop, Robert GeistlingerVideo

The reviewer highly enjoys 'At the Gates of Loyang,' particularly praising its strong solo play and high component quality, though they note it feels familiar as a standard Euro game and has some odd rules for four players.

80
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Board Game QuestArticle

A great euro for 2-3 players. Card drafting is unique and lots of great decisions to make about when to buy points.

80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
The Dicey Review, Monique and NaveenVideo

This video offers a comprehensive 'walkthrough review' of the physical board game "At the Gates of Loyang," assessing its gameplay mechanics, component quality, and overall player experience. The reviewer delves into aspects such as drafting, scoring, and the game's unique 'multiplayer solitaire' feel.

80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Gameward BoundArticle

The reviewer highly praises 'At the Gates of Loyang' as an engaging and strategic farming game with intuitive mechanics and high-quality components, despite its potential for analysis paralysis. They find it a rewarding optimization puzzle, having played it 20 times, and express a strong desire to continue refining their strategy for better scores.

80
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No Fluff Solo Gaming with John LaRuffa, John LaRuffaArticleTop List

The reviewer includes At the Gates of Loyang in his B tier of solo games, noting it as a very unique and cool game he has enjoyed playing solo for many years.

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80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
ProZD, Monique and Naveen (Before You Play)Video

ProZD found "At the Gates of Loyang" decently fun, especially for two players, but noted issues with randomness, downtime, and the scoring track. He ultimately considered the overall experience "okay".

80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Rahdo Runs Through, Rahdo Runs ThroughVideo

This video provides a comprehensive gameplay runthrough of the physical board game At the Gates of Loyang. Rahdo shares his insights, experience, and opinions, including dedicated final thoughts about the game.

80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Board to Death TV, Steve Nash and FeliciaVideo

The video by Board to Death TV offers a comprehensive review of the physical board game 'At the Gates of Loyang'. It covers the game's components, setup, and core gameplay mechanics, including the solo variant, providing the hosts' overall impressions.

72
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Sir Thecos, Robert GeistlingerArticleTop List

The reviewer highly enjoys At the Gates of Loyang, particularly praising its excellent solo play and the satisfying, yet relaxing, puzzle of managing resources and fulfilling customer orders. He notes that while it's a solid Euro game with high-quality components, it isn't groundbreaking, feeling more like a multiplayer solitaire experience with some unique drafting mechanisms.

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