The Great Split First Impressions

In The Great Split, you pass and receive cards to move on tracks.

Will the tracks earn you enough points?

You draft cards to collect riches such as gems, gold, artwork, and tomes, adding them to your collection to make it the most prestigious of all!

The Great Split Game Overview

Quick Rules Summary

You have a hand of cards, you divide them any way you like between a divider, put them in a card envelope and pass them to the player on your left.

The player on your right passes you a similar sleeve. You pick half of the cards received and give the other half back. The player on your left returns to you the side of the split they didn’t keep.

You then use the symbols on these cards to move up on the relevant tracks.

How do you win?

There are mid-game scoring and end-game scoring where the tracks are scored. They score in different ways… Some for how far you have got, some for your lowest position over 2 tracks and art scores a variable amount depending on where the art value slider is.

The player with the most points wins.

Main Mechanisms

I split, you choose! I love this system, Fact or Fiction was one of my favourite Magic the Gathering cards which is basically that. But to play a whole game JUST of this and have it work is really cool.

USP

I think the I Split, You Choose-based gameplay is unique as the main/only mechanism in the game.

Theme

The theme of you being a luxury hoarder is a fun one that doesn’t necessarily come out in the gameplay.

Setup

Shuffle cards and give everyone a character tile with a special ability.

The cards have the same backs but are in 3 stacks for 3 different levels so be sure to put the game away correctly for a nice smooth setup.

Components & Artwork

The cards are basic but like Nevermore, they help you easily see what’s in your hand.

The dual-layered boards are really nice, this game without them would be unplayable!

Ease of Teaching

So the game itself is very easy to teach. The different scoring methods can be explained and re-explained as the play goes on.

The splitting and choosing part is also easy, you just need players to get on with it. They can always ask for advice from the person that passed them the hand.

Similar Games

Of the games available with this mechanism, I don’t think I’ve actually played one? I know Tussie Mussie gets a lot of love.

The Great Split Review

Positives

I love the I Split, You Choose part of the game due to its simplicity.

I like the different scoring of the tracks that make you think and rethink your priorities.

The cards are nice and the board are nice, like Evergreen from the same publisher.

Negatives

Could get repetitive?

Cost only a bit less than Evergreen but has much lower production quality.

Summary

A really fun game I want to play again, but not enough to own it.

Jesta ThaRogue