When my husband and I decided to try The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel, we weren’t sure what to expect. Being relatively new to board gaming (like, proper board gaming, of course we’ve played the family classics that come out every Christmas), we wanted something that didn’t require hours of setup or complex rules. Thankfully, this game turned out to be the perfect mix of simplicity, strategy, and fun.
The Magic of Tutorials
First things first, there were a lot of pieces to punch out. One thing I felt the game was then missing was containers. It would be really helpful to keep each numbered piece in its own pile, so we won’t have to spend half an hour splitting them up the next time we open the box. We then spent about 30 minutes watching a tutorial on YouTube to fully grasp the rules, which helped a lot. Tutorials are magic, trying to understand written rules can be so frustrating – having someone on screen talking you through it really adds to the experience. In The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel, you and your opponent are rival potion brewers, trying to lure patients from a nearby park to your market stall with magical brews. The first to treat six patients, or the player with the most patients after seven rounds, wins!
Bag-Building for Beginners
One of the game’s coolest aspects is the “bag-building” system, which was totally new to us, but surprisingly easy to get into. Each round, you draw ingredients from your bag to brew your potion. Each ingredient does something different: some let you move patients closer to your stall, some give you bonus ingredients, and others offer effects that can benefit you in later rounds. However – pull too many “snap peas” (the white tokens – the “bad ingredient!”) and your potion will EXPLODE (sound effects compulsory), costing you points for that round. This mechanic kept the game interesting and added to that chance it feeling.
Quick and Easy to Fit Into Our Evening
One of the biggest perks of The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel is how easy it was to fit into our weeknight routine. Once we got the hang of it, each game took about 30-40 minutes, making it perfect for an after-dinner activity. The rounds are quick, so we didn’t feel like we were committing to an all-night game session – just enough time to have fun without feeling rushed.
Beautiful Design and Details
I’m a sucker for beautiful game art, and The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel definitely delivers. The board, cauldrons, ingredient tokens, cards – all of it is designed with a charming medieval magic vibe. Setting up my own potion with a mix of coloured ingredients was a nice touch.
Engaging, Fun and Not Overwhelming
The game balances strategy with luck, which we both really enjoyed. As time went on, we got better at timing our moved and choosing ingredients. Pulling ingredients from the bag each round is both fun and nerve-wracking – hoping for just the right one to make your potion perfect, but knowing just one more white token could ruin everything…
This game turned out to be the perfect way for us to spend some quality time together without the TV on. We laughed, strategized, and had a good bit of competition. It’s definitely cemented a weekly game night in the calendar! The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel is exactly what we hoped for – it’s quick and easy to learn. If you’re looking for a light, fun, and strategic game to share with one opponent, I highly recommend giving this a try!