79

In Ethnos, players call upon the support of various fantasy tribes and fantasy creatures to help them gain control of the land and earn glory. Players collect cards by location or creature to form sets, playing them on the table to place control tokens in different regions and utilize unique tribal powers.

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79

The Verdict

based on 28 reviews

Positive 0%
Mixed 0%
Negative 0%
Easy to learn, fast-playing gateway game
High replayability from variable factions/races
Clever blend of set collection and area control
Scales well from two to six players
Bland, generic fantasy art (original edition)
Can feel too luck-driven for some
Some races/combinations seen as unbalanced
Lacks deep strategic tension, say critics
90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Board Game QuestArticleSecond Edition

“This island has a glorious artistic style and functional pagoda pieces that fuel an area control game of tough choices and challenging turns for a wide range of players. Ethnos: Second Edition is highly recommended.”

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Roll To Review, facebook.com/rollToReviewArticle

“Ethnos is not just a fantastic entry into the hobby, it's a fantastic game most board gamers will love. That said, there are reasons you might not like it.”

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.
boardgamecloset, boardgameclosetVideo

“The reason I didn't [hate] this game, I liked it very much and I do enjoy it. I look forward to definitely playing it.”(9:54)

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.
Man vs Meeple, Man vs MeepleVideo

“This is a fantastic, fantastic game for two up to six players, and it plays great for all of those numbers.”(8:23)

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Meeple Mountain, Tom FranklinArticle

“Ethnos was a big hit with my gaming group—one of those games that elicited a unanimous, "Let's play that again" as soon as the first game ended.”

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

“Ethnos is immensely fun. There's an incredible amount of replay value, and the mechanics make it accessible to those new to area control games.”

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.
Game Boy Geek, Game Boy GeekVideo

“I love this game enough and it's an interesting thing is I typically don't like fantasy style games like this but I love this game which tells you how good how highly I think about it”(10:08)

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.
The Cardboard Herald, The Cardboard HeraldVideo

“I still hundred percent stick by how incredible Ethnos is and think that it is a modern classic that is deserving of so much more accolades, so many more accolades, then it actually got.”(0:58)

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 Game Dad, Board Game DadArticleTop List – #1

“Number one is a great game for this list; it has everything Ticket to Ride has, but better. Now here's what it's all about.”

See list
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.
Theology of Games, Jeremiah IsleyArticle

“Ethnos is a fun, elegantly designed game that's not just a casual gamers hit--even my most discerning gamer friends love it!”

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.
The Board Game Family, TrentArticle

“If you like area control, set collection, or variable set up and scoring we'd highly recommend you find a chance to play Ethnos.”

85
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Zatu GamesArticle

“Ethnos is an excellent game for both beginners and experienced players, with some luck and a mix of uncomplicated mechanics. It's fun and quick with plenty of replay-ability. For those looking for a deep experience, this may not be the game for you.”

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