It is rare for a game to be an instant hit with my family but Planet Unknown seems to have done it. Planet Unknown will have you terraforming a planet and competing against other players to make it the most habitable and earn the most points. With support for up to six players and simultaneous play, Planet Unknown is snappy and very satisfying to play. But it is the blend of simple mechanics that really make this game stand out from others in this genre.

Planet Unknown Overview

Setup

Setting up Planet Unknown is a breeze. All you need is the lazy susan board in the center, planet mats and cooperation boards for each player, and some life pods, cubes, and rovers. Start by placing the life pods in the designated spaces on the map, putting the colored cubes at the bottom of the respective tracks, and placing two rovers on each player’s corporation board. Then, deal out a number of civ cards equal to the number of players plus one and place a shared objective card between each player. That’s it – you’re ready to start terraforming! This game can literally hit the table in under 5 minutes.

Gameplay

In Planet Unknown, players take turns choosing from a pair of tiles they would like to place on their board. The player who starts the round is the captain, they get to rotate the susan to a pair of tiles that they need and all other players must choose one tile from the pair in front of them to place on their board. When a tile is placed, players must move their cube up the respective tracks shown on the tile, placing a meteor if there is an icon on the tile. The different tracks in Planet Unknown allow players to:

• Collect Civ Cards: Players can earn one-time or end-game bonuses by advancing on this track.
• Create Water: Players can earn bonus points or move other cubes up different tracks by creating water on their board.
• Grow Forests: By advancing on this track, players can collect single squares of biomass to fill in spaces on their board.
• Deploy and Move Rovers: Players must use their rovers to collect life pods and clear meteorites.
• Advance Technology: Players can bend the rules of the game to their advantage by advancing on this track.

The game ends when a player is unable to place anymore tiles on their board or when the pair of tiles on the lazy susan is empty. Players then add up their scores based on track advancement, life pods and meteorites collected, shared objectives won, completed rows and columns on their planet board, and end-game bonuses from their Civ Cards. The player with the most points wins the game!

Planet Unknown Impressions

If you’re looking for a board game that’s equal parts challenging and fun, then Planet Unknown is a must play. This polyomino game is accessible to players of all types, while still providing a healthy dose of strategy. The lazy susan in the center of the board is not only genius, but it also moves gameplay along. The simultaneous play style means that everyone is involved at all times, keeping the energy high and eliminating down time. I don’t think I have ever come across a large game component that has such massive table presence but also serves such a useful purpose.

One of the standout elements of Planet Unknown is the satisfaction you get from placing tiles and advancing up tracks. Each turn feels like an accomplishment, and the various bonuses you receive for moving up tracks add an extra layer of excitement to the game. With five different tracks to advance on, there’s always something new to strive for.

If you’re looking for a bit more challenge, there are several options available to ramp up the complexity. There are asymmetrical planets that restrict tile placement, asymmetrical corporation boards that grant special abilities, and event cards that restrict or give bonuses for a specific round.

These additions really add to the replay-ability of the game. With a large number of tiles and different planet and corporation boards, the combinations are plenty.

Planet Unknown Final Verdict

Planet Unknown is an absolute banger of a game that will quickly become a favorite in your collection. The combination of accessibility and strategy makes it an excellent choice for players of all types. The simultaneous play style and satisfying track movement keep the game exciting from start to finish. Not only is this a top game with my family for 2022 but also a top game all time. The king of polyominoes is here, and it will not be dethroned anytime soon.