Ora et Labora (2011)
(2011)Lookout Games, Z-Man Games, 999 Games, Filosofia Éditions
In Ora et Labora, each player is head of a monastery in the Medieval era who acquires land and constructs buildings – little enterprises that will gain resources and profit. The game focuses heavily on resource conversion and building optimization, creating a complex economic engine. It's considered one of Uwe Rosenberg's most challenging and rewarding designs, particularly praised for its solo play experience.
Where to Buy
If BGV helped you pick your next game, buying through our links helps our small team keep the site running.
The Verdict
based on 12 reviews
“In conclusion, Ora et Labora enthralls players with its strategic gameplay, diverse paths to victory, stunning components, and high replayability. In summary, Ora et Labora is an absolute gem and a must-have for any board game enthusiast.”
The reviewer loves 'Ora et Labora,' finding it to be a special and great game that demonstrates clever design and rewarding resource conversion, placing it among the top titles from the designer.
“Thanks to Zatu for stocking this gem, we love it, and it currently sits in our top 3 Rosenberg games... I highly recommend it.”
The reviewer is very happy with Ora et Labora, placing it near the top of Uwe Rosenberg's harvest series and recommending it highly to fans of medium-to-heavy Eurogames.
“Shut Up & Sit Down highlighted Ora et Labora as a notable Uwe Rosenberg design in their discussion of the Board Game Geek Top 100, further supported by its high standing on Quinns' personal list.”
“So it feels to me like interesting, subtle, but key interactions, while capturing a bit of Feast’s “Whoa there are so many things I can do” feeling. I also personally connect with the theme a little more, and like the geometric element mixed with the resource conversions.”
Rahdo praises Ora et Labora as an absolutely amazing game with near-infinite replayability, highlighting its satisfying progression from humble beginnings to a powerful engine, despite minor component quality concerns and a wish for more setup variability.
The reviewer regards Ora et Labora as a fantastic game, particularly praising the deep and rewarding experience of building a production chain from the ground up to achieve the full gameplay experience.
The reviewer highlights Ora et Labora as a deeply engaging, heavy worker placement game by Uwe Rosenberg, emphasizing its intricate resource management, conversion systems, and a unique resource dial. He appreciates the game's strategic depth and the challenge presented by its solo mode.
The reviewers found Ora et Labora to be an enjoyable and challenging game, praising its intuitive components and depth of choices, especially for fans of Agricola, despite noting some fiddliness and potential for analysis paralysis.
The reviewer found Ora et Labora to be a complex yet engaging resource conversion game, appreciating its various modes and detailed gameplay that is characteristic of Uwe Rosenberg's designs.
“As you may have gleaned from the intro, Ora & Labora is a monastic economic game set in the Middle Ages. Players labor to develop their landscapes into valuable diocese (i.e. properties worth a lot of victory points).”
Where to Buy
If BGV helped you pick your next game, buying through our links helps our small team keep the site running.
