More Digital Board Game Fun As Asmodee Digital Releases Both ‘Ticket to Ride: First Journey’ and ‘Harald: A Game of Influence’

At this point I think just about everyone has at least heard of Ticket to Ride, if not played one of the many physical or digital versions. The Ticket to Ride: First Journey app transports the popular, more simplified kid and family friendly version of this Days of Wonder classic to digital platforms. With shorter routes and quicker win-condition, this version is suitable for all ages and is perfect for younger players. Players race to be the first to complete 6 routes, or if one player runs out of trains, then the player with the most routes at that point wins. The game includes both the USA and European maps, complete with cute 3D animated graphics for each route stop. There is an easy to follow tutorial as well as a solo mode with three difficulty levels and pass and play for local multiplayer fun. Kids are sure to love this colorful and fun version of this board game classic.

When I saw Harald: A Game of Influence appear on the App Store this week, I was instantly intrigued as I had never even heard of the 2015 game on which its based. However, it sounded like an interesting, tactical card game so I dove right in. In fact the more I play, the more I really like this game in which players trying to charm the most influential character of the realm to be noticed by the King and win his favor.

To do so, they are playing cards into both a common area known as the King’s Council as well as their own personal village. On their turn, the player first plays a card to the (common) Kings Council in the center of the table, then plays a card to their village, then replenishes their hand. Sounds simple enough, but there is a lot of strategy as to exactly which cards to play where…and when. Each of the cards features one of six different characters, each of which has a different function and power. The cards in the King’s Council increase the influence of each of these characters. Each character special power allows them to manipulate cards in a player’s village or the King’s Council and affect how they earn additional bonus points. For instance, when played in a player’s village, the Bear/Warrior allows that player to return a card from any player’s village (including their own) to the bottom of the deck and replace it with another card; it also gives the player one additional prestige point per bard in their village. There are other cards whose effects allow players to swap cards between the Council and a Village, swap cards between their hand and the village and more. The ultimate goal is to get the maximum number of prestige points and at the end of the game. To this end, each card in a player’s village counts as many points as the number of times that same card appears in the King’s council. So players have to be cunning in their card play; keeping close track of which cards are in their village, their opponents’ villages and the King’s Council. One also needs to make sure you have the proper combos to maximize points while attempting to break up their opponents’ combos.

The more I play, the more layers of strategy I uncover in this rather delightful little game. There also some optional variations to switch up gameplay. If you like quick playing strategical card games, I highly recommend checking out Harald: A Game of Influence for just $2!