Flamecraft, a board game about artisan dragons, is GOTY material

Manny Vega was a video game designer and he survived two decades of gaming.Mercenaries 2), Midway (NBA BallersElectronic Arts and many others. But the game he may likely be best remembered for doesn’t have any wise-cracking operators or fade-away jumpers. Instead it’s filled with charming, pint-sized dragons and a whole lot of love.

FlameCardboard Alchemy’s latest game, Vega, is a joy to play from beginning to end. And while Vega’s keenly balanced systems hum and whirr in the background, it’s Sandara Tang’s soul-crushingly adorable art that steals the show. It’s the sweetest blend of art and design that I’ve seen in a tabletop game since ScytheThis is my favorite game of the year, so it’s a great choice.

FlameIt is a game that involves a group of players working together in order to create an engine and populate the town with artisans dragons. This group of highly skilled critters, along with their humans, creates goods like metalwork and meat dishes as well as fresh-baked bread. There are many storefronts that feature names such as Fogo De Char (a butcher), Gnome Depot, which sells cauldrons, and Saving Throw (for your pottery needs). That same sort of playfulness extends to and through every element of the game — even the dragons themselves, with monikers like Cutlet, Dandelion, and Flint.

Let’s get back to engine-building. In engine-building games, the players create their own set of bonuses and buffs using either a deck of cards or sideboards. Some engine-building games may become quite solitary, where players are able to focus on the task at hand and run the numbers between turns.

Flame pulls the action, and player’s attention, back to the center of the table with a singular engine — the town itself — that everyone contributes to on their own turn. They are not static either. You can use their mobility and migration abilities to move around the board. This will make it difficult for you to win big, and open up opportunities to try new strategies. Also, there is a huge selection of dragons (78 and 28) that can be found in the box. This ensures that every game will never be identical. It’s both satisfying and thrilling, and rewards both planning and careful attention.

Image: Cardboard Alchemy/Lucky Duck Games

Like many European-style board games, there’s no direct conflict in this game. Points are an indicator of reputation. The winner is determined by the town’s most beloved player. This helps increase the popularity of the game among families. Flame It is a journey of discovery that leads to new and charming shops, as well as artisan dragons. The manual itself is an enjoyable delight with easy-to-follow instructions to introduce new players as well as a comprehensive FAQ that explains individual rules.

There has been a lot of discussion over the past decade about onboarding new board gamers. It is important to note that there are several issues. Flame is a bit too sophisticated to be called a children’s game, it absolutely fits the bill of an excellent gateway game. This is a AAA-quality experience that opens the door to a thriving and fascinating world — in more ways than one.

Flame Lucky Duck Games supplied a retail copy of the book for this review. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. Although these partnerships do not impact editorial content, Vox Media could earn commissions for products sold via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.