Board Game Arena

Anyone who thinks this isn't the case should take a look at the following game: Table #807439337.
I don't want to detract from my opponent's victory, but whenever someone plays this way, they win the game by a clear margin of 17 to 7. Look at the difference in cards: 3 of each color for me and 9 for my opponent. That's why the game is so broken. Either you play this way (if you know how) or you won't have a chance of winning anything...
Frustrating? Yes, it's a very good game, but when you play with people who know how to play this kind of fast game... you don't stand a chance...

JoaquimMMarqués wrote: ↑17 February 2026, 11:11 Anyone who thinks this isn't the case should take a look at the following game: Table #807439337.
I don't want to detract from my opponent's victory, but whenever someone plays this way, they win the game by a clear margin of 17 to 7. Look at the difference in cards: 3 of each color for me and 9 for my opponent. That's why the game is so broken. Either you play this way (if you know how) or you won't have a chance of winning anything...
Frustrating? Yes, it's a very good game, but when you play with people who know how to play this kind of fast game... you don't stand a chance...

If your way of playing does not work, it does not mean that it is broken. And the fact that there is only "one way to play" in the game doesn't mean that either. The whole game is based on the effectiveness of moves, it's just that often the most effective moves are to collect several expensive cards and auxiliary ones. Despite the apparent simplicity of the most powerful strategy, the game is very deep, has a lot of strategic and tactical decisions and can play in many different scenarios.

However, if you don't like the way the game is played, there's nothing wrong with that, you can just find people that play like you or try another game. I don't understand at all how to play splendor at a high level and I much prefer the duel option. But I'll never say that splendor is a broken game.

JoaquimMMarqués wrote: ↑17 February 2026, 11:11 Anyone who thinks this isn't the case should take a look at the following game: Table #807439337.
I don't want to detract from my opponent's victory, but whenever someone plays this way, they win the game by a clear margin of 17 to 7. Look at the difference in cards: 3 of each color for me and 9 for my opponent. That's why the game is so broken. Either you play this way (if you know how) or you won't have a chance of winning anything...
Frustrating? Yes, it's a very good game, but when you play with people who know how to play this kind of fast game... you don't stand a chance...

You posted a casual game between two players at a tournament. They were just making silly moves for fun; there was no optimization to win going on. Tons of mistakes by both players, which is completely fine, this was not a high-level game where quality play was expected. If either player at a super strategy to win, they would not be rated so low BGA artificially protects their rating from going any lower. You can't expect a game between two 100s to represent how to effectively play Splendor, let alone the only way.

Is there any way this is actually a serious post?

This posted game table number does not show the game to be broken. The player who scored 17 points made it plainly obvious which top row cards were being targeted. The player who scored 7 points did nothing to stop it from happening. That game replay looked more like a co-op variant to see how fast 2 cooperating players could win a game. In that regard, 24 turns is pretty good.

FrankJones wrote: ↑17 February 2026, 17:47 Is there any way this is actually a serious post?

No, because

FrankJones wrote: ↑17 February 2026, 17:47The player who scored 7 points did nothing to stop it from happening. That game replay looked more like a co-op variant to see how fast 2 cooperating players could win a game.

OP was the second player.

you posted a tablenummer (Table #807439337), but no link, how do I watch this game?

stevencraeynest wrote: ↑19 February 2026, 12:47 you posted a tablenummer (Table #807439337), but no link, how do I watch this game?

Easy. You take a link from any of your tables, change the table number to this one and watch

I watched your game. Short answer: the game is not broken.
You didn't block to the white coin card, you let your opponent take all 3 high-efficient card, again, no block, sure they'll turn their coin to point more quickly than your noble strategy.