Ironwood (EN)

Dive into Ironwood, an asymmetric tactical duel where two rival factions clash for control of the land of Ironwood. On one side, the Ironclad, tireless settlers of the iron mountains, who extract energy from the mysterious Larimor Crystals to fuel their war machines. On the other, the Woodwalkers, swift and elusive shadows of the forest, who draw on that same magical power to awaken three ancient totems and summon the Guardian, protector of the woods. One way or another, the conflict tearing Ironwood apart is finally coming to an end.

Each round, you and your opponent alternate playing three cards specific to your faction: they can be used to move your units, extract crystals, or trigger combat - and during combat, those same cards are read instead for their combat values, in a simultaneous bid to win the fight. The two factions form a truly two-player game that is completely asymmetric: different decks, different victory conditions, and even different areas of the map. As Commander of the Ironclad, lay the foundations for your forges in the outer mountains before building on them. As Chieftain of the Woodwalkers, hunt down three ancestral totems using your Vision cards, then clear a path to them by pushing back enemy warbands. The first faction to complete its mission wins the game.

You'll probably love Ironwood if you're after a punchy duel that's quick to set up, where every card pulls double duty: once for its action effect, once for its combat value when a fight breaks out. Fans of asymmetric two-player games should feel right at home, and so will solo players looking for a smart AI opponent that barely takes up any table space.

Ironwood was nominated for the 2024 Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game award. On BoardGameGeek, it holds an average rating of 7.8/10 from over 2,000 ratings, with a complexity weight of about 2.8/5 - right in the sweet spot of an intermediate strategy game, easy to learn without being shallow. The solo mode offers two distinct AI opponents depending on which faction you're facing, delivering a solitaire experience that stays true to the spirit of the duel.

The game is designed by Mael Brunet and Julien Chaput, who deliver a versatile, elegant card system here. Ironwood's visual world comes to life through the brush of Qistina Khalidah, responsible for the box and card illustrations, and Villő Farkas, who leads the art direction of the boards.

BOX CONTENTS
2 double-sided player boards
1 main board
87 cards
29 metal tokens
25 wooden tokens
20 plastic crystals
20 plastic cubes
1 special die
1 rulebook
1 solo booklet

Number of players: 1 to 2
Duration: 60 minutes
Age: 12+