Now or Never: Les Royaumes du Passé (FR)

*French version

Now or Never: Les Royaumes du Passé (FR) concludes the acclaimed Arzium narrative trilogy following Above and Below and Near and Far. In this ambitious strategy game blending exploration, storytelling, and village management, players take on the role of exiles finally returning home to rebuild their ancestral village before rival factions claim it first.

The world of Arzium has been devastated by strange creatures emerging from a mysterious crystal meteorite. Twenty years after the fall of the village known as The Monument, the monsters appear to be weakening. Former villagers now see a chance to return home and rebuild, but the abandoned ruins attract many competing groups eager to seize the opportunity. Players must therefore optimize their actions, protect travelers, and develop their village more efficiently than their opponents.

Each playable character features unique abilities, motivations, and personal storylines, creating a deeply asymmetrical experience. Story Mode allows players to explore locations through richly written storybooks filled with choices, encounters, and narrative events. Decisions directly shape the adventure while gradually revealing the mysteries hidden throughout Arzium.

At the heart of the game, players construct buildings, recruit specialists, battle enemies, and develop powerful resource engines to strengthen their village. Tile placement, hand management, and exploration mechanics combine into a rich and highly immersive experience designed for fans of heavier strategy games.

You will probably enjoy Now or Never: Les Royaumes du Passé if you love narrative games, imaginative fantasy worlds, and deep strategic experiences where every session tells a different story. Its blend of competition, storytelling, and village development creates a memorable adventure for both solo players and groups.

Ryan Laukat's world of Arzium is celebrated for its instantly recognizable artistic style, combining fantasy, science fiction, and bizarre creatures into a setting that feels both whimsical and mysterious. Now or Never stands as the culmination of this beloved trilogy among fans of modern expert board games.

The game was both designed and illustrated by Ryan Laukat, creator of Above and Below, Near and Far, and Sleeping Gods. This French edition allows players to fully enjoy the extensive narrative content and immersive storytelling found throughout the world of Arzium.

BOX CONTENTS
1 double-sided game board
4 Village boards
1 Season board
4 Hero boards
4 Shell markers
4 Tool markers
4 Book markers
4 Crystal markers
4 Bottled Demon markers
4 Heart markers
4 four-sided dice
15 Hero action tokens
15 Experience tokens
20 Mana tokens
66 coins
34 enemies
80 Building tiles
1 First player token
1 rulebook
6 storybooks
9 Solo cards
8 Player aid cards

Number of players: 1 to 4
Playing time: 45 to 180 minutes
Age: 14+