Alchemist: The King’s Golem Review

Overview

Alchemists: The King’s Golem is an expansion to the critically acclaimed deduction game Alchemists, designed by Matúš Kotry and published by Czech Games Edition. This expansion builds upon the core mechanics of the base game, offering a more intricate and thematic experience that elevates the game’s complexity.

Does The King’s Golem enhance the base game in a meaningful way, or does it complicate an already deep strategy game? Let’s take a closer look at what this expansion brings to the table.

How the Game Works

For those unfamiliar with Alchemists, the base game revolves around players taking on the role of alchemists who mix ingredients to deduce alchemical formulas while managing their reputation, publishing theories, and selling potions. The game uses a unique app-driven deduction system to randomize chemical compositions in each playthrough, ensuring a fresh experience every time.

The King’s Golem expansion introduces several new modules, adding layers of strategy and difficulty:

1. The Golem Module – The centerpiece of the expansion. Players must discover the secrets behind the King’s Golem by conducting research and presenting theories. Failing to do so in time results in severe penalties. This module adds a thematic sense of urgency to the game.

2. Startup Funding – A new way to gain an early-game advantage, helping balance the initial struggle for resources and funding.

3. Busy Days – A slight tweak to the turn structure, affecting action spaces and planning efficiency.

4. Royal Encyclopedia – A new way to earn points by documenting potion discoveries for the king, offering an alternative route to success.

The core mechanics of the base game remain intact, but each module introduces new twists and turns. Players now have additional avenues for strategy, making planning and time management even more critical.

Five Things to Like

1. Strategic Depth and Replayability - One of Alchemists’ greatest strengths is its strategic depth, and The King’s Golem magnifies this by introducing even more meaningful choices. Players must now balance their potion-making activities with the

pressure of investigating the golem’s mysteries. The new paths to victory offer strategic variety, ensuring that no two games play out the same way.

2. Thematic Excellence - The expansion does a fantastic job of reinforcing the game’s theme. The King’s Golem storyline, the Royal Encyclopedia, and the new mechanics all feel naturally integrated into the alchemical world. Unlike some expansions that feel like mere add-ons, The King’s Golem genuinely enhances the narrative and immerses players in the setting.

3. Balanced Complexity - While Alchemists is already a dense game, The King’s Golem adds complexity without making it overwhelming. The modular nature of the expansion allows players to pick and choose which components to include, making it easier to adjust the game’s difficulty and length to suit different groups.

4. Enhancing Player Interaction - The new mechanics increase the level of competition and interaction between players. The Royal Encyclopedia, for example, creates additional opportunities for racing to discoveries, and the Golem’s requirements force players to consider their opponents’ progress more carefully.

5. Quality Components and Design - Like the base game, The King’s Golem boasts high-quality components, well-designed iconography, and beautifully illustrated artwork. The new player aids and rulebooks are well-organized, making it easier to integrate the expansion’s content smoothly.

Potential Drawbacks

While The King’s Golem is an excellent expansion, it does introduce some challenges and drawbacks:

1. Increased Complexity - Although the expansion’s complexity is well-balanced, it undeniably raises the game’s learning curve. New players, in particular, may feel overwhelmed by the additional mechanics and increased decision-making pressure.

2. Longer Playtime - With the added layers of strategy, the game takes longer to play. A full game of Alchemists with The King’s Golem can stretch beyond three hours, which may be too long for some groups.

3. Heavier Deduction Requirements - The deduction element of Alchemists is already demanding, and the expansion makes it even more challenging. Players who struggle with logic puzzles or lengthy decision-making may find the game mentally exhausting.

4. More Punishing Mistakes - Mistakes in Alchemists are often costly, and The King’s Golem adds additional layers of punishment if players fail to keep up with the Golem’s research. Falling behind can make it difficult to recover, which might frustrate less experienced players.

5. App Dependence - While the app-driven deduction system is one of the game’s standout features, its integration is now even more necessary in the expansion. Some players who prefer a fully analog experience may find this reliance on a digital component a drawback.

Final Verdict

Overall, Alchemists: The King’s Golem is a phenomenal expansion that successfully enhances the base game with new challenges, deeper strategy, and immersive thematic elements. It is best suited for players who already enjoy the complexity of Alchemists and want to push the game’s strategic depth even further.