Mythwind review
I was attracted to Mythwind by the art and by the promise of a cooperative journey to build a new home in a mythical valley.
First came painting the minis, because I am an avid painter and my wife has become spoiled and doesn’t want to play with unpainted minis anymore :D
The minis are big and fairly detailed for the style. I think they are something, that when painted or at least sharded/sun dropped, add to the theme. The art and the components are fantastic and I love the organization in the well constructed box. I do wish it did a better job of holding all expansion content, however.
The experience so far
That aside, the game started out fairly easily, my wife choosing the farmer and myself the crafter. The gameplay is straightforward action selection. The events surrounding your own actions lend a feeling that there is a community around you, and you are helping to build that community. The characters themselves however, do not directly interact much.
Things became a bit more involved with our next game when my wife chose the Merchant and I took on the role of the Ranger. Both felt more complex and both of us had many more rule questions. With the help of FAQs and a few BGG searches we have figured out these characters in a second playthrough, but be warned the first play with them might not be very quick.
After 5 plays we are into Summer in Year 2. I think our choices make an impact on the town in some ways, but overall, it feels like the town is going to progress with out without us, with the exception of keeping the ever-growing forest at bay. Seriously, loggers would love to discover this place as it regenerates so quickly!
Who wants to play?
In the long run, I’m not sure how much impact our choices will have. Mythwind feels like a gentle journey you take because you want to. A walk more than a hike, where the purpose is found in the decompression and enjoyment of what you are doing more than the destination. I think this game is therefore for families or couples looking for a laidback change up from your standard euros or tense co-ops.
This could be a long-term problem as my wife gets motivate by clear goals in any board game. It may not get picked back up as often for that reason. A good comparison here would be Dorf Romantik (regular or Sakura). That game provides a chill experience as well, but with clear goals to work toward.
Player count doesn’t impact play experience much in my opinion. I could play a season solo or with 4 players, and my character is going to do most of the same actions.
We also recently got Vantage and I would say the games both attempt to make a co-op experience that is sandbox and open. I think Mythwind succeeds more in being chill while Vantage succeeds in presenting an underlying puzzle to figure out. I bet Vantage wins out in the long run, but I more interested to see if Mythwind's chill vibe can bring us back into 2026.
Bottom Line
I am happy I tried Mythwind. I don't know how much more it will get played, but I want to see it through to at least the top tier of buildings. I enjoyed painting the miniatures and in learning my role. I want to try out the two roles I have not yet played as well. There is still a lot of game to play here.
Rating
🍁🍁🍁◾◾◾
3 of 6 Autumn Leaves
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