Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile (2021)

Polygon praises "Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile" as an ambitious and intricately designed game that transcends typical strategy titles by crafting a rich, interconnected historical narrative. The reviewer notes that it's a complete artistic vision that demands a paradigm shift in how players approach legacy board games, though its avant-garde nature might not be for everyone.

The reviewer highly praises Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile for its fresh, unique concept, its ability to tell amazing stories through evolving gameplay, and its focus on political interaction over pure mechanical strategy, making each playthrough a unique historical narrative.

I’ve rarely (perhaps never) experienced a game that understands so clearly why so many people play tabletop games - for the stories written around the table with friends - and manages to make that such a key, concrete part of the experience on the table, too.

The reviewer enthusiastically praised "Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile" as a sprawling, ambitious, and thematically rich game, citing it as their second favorite game of the year, despite noting its demanding learning curve and optimal experience with a consistent player group.

The reviewer expresses immense love for Oath, considering it a significant success and even purchasing additional deluxe components, having rated it as their second-favorite game of the previous year.

Oath: Chronicles of Empire & Exile is an extraordinary creation, a masterpiece of board game design and emergent player-driven storytelling that ranks as one of the year's most outstanding tabletop releases.

The reviewer highly praises "Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile" as a uniquely rewarding and immersive experience that encourages players to invest time and return to its evolving world, calling it the most interesting game they've played.

If you’ve got three or four people in your pocket though, and if you want a game that’ll land on your table week after week after week, Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile is borderline essential.

Oath is phenomenal, but one of the deepest and most complex board games I’ve played in a long while. If that’s your thing, and world building is something you enjoy, Oath will pay you back in spades if you give it a chance.

Oath is an exceptionally good game, but it’s not for everyone. If you have a ready group for Oath, you’re in for one of the best political board gaming experiences out there.

The reviewer considers "Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile" a strong success, particularly for its engaging multiplayer experience, rich interaction, and dynamic storytelling, making it one of their favorite games despite a less favorable solo mode.

Oath is an asymmetric game where you’re collectively creating the rise and fall of empires. It’s also my pick for the best board game of 2021, because of the mad rush to the ending, the way it remembers previous games and the wonderful memories it creates.