In Fort, you're a kid, and like all kids (pre-2010) you want to build up the coolest Fort, get more friends and collect new toys. The game is easily recognized as a Leder Games creation, with the incredible artwork by Kyle Ferrin and original game design, but is significantly less a-symmetric than other Leder Games titles. Let's put it to the test...
Gameplay
Cards and Deck
Fort is, at its heart, a deck-building game. You begin with ten friend cards (two are your best friends) and build up your collection through add-card actions and recruiting. When playing cards, you can add cards of the same suit to buff them. Cards you don't spend (except your best friends (⭐️)) are put into your yard and can be stolen from you during your opponent's recruit phase. Card actions include gaining pizza and toys, gaining points, gaining cards, adding to your pack, copying your opponent's pack and upgrading your fort.
Victory Points
Victory Points are gained through upgrading your fort, Made Up Rule cards, Perk cards and occasional actions. Points you get from upgrading your fort are only tallied up at the end of the game. The game can only end three ways; when a player gets to 25 Victory Points, when the Main Deck runs out, or when someone gets to Fort Level 5.
Game Design
While this game screams Leder Games, from the game design to the box art, it is lacking many a-symmetric traits common among these kinds of games. While some may find this disappointing, I really like this design. The chosen design lets more experienced players have fun with it while also opening the door to newer players who mightn't like the a-symmetric team design of Root or other titles.
The game is fun to play, being fast-paced but also easy to learn and eventually master. It's a great game featuring elements from deck-building games and games about upgrading while still having a layer of strategy.
Overall, Fort is a solid game for everyone to play, whether you're new to these kinds of games or have a whole collection of them. Fort by Leder Games gets
9/10.
About the Games
Game Info
Fort by Leder Games.
📄 Game Design: Grant Rodiek
🧪 Development: Nick Brachmann 🎨 Artwork: Kyle Ferrin
Resources
I highly recommend any new players who want a full run-through watch this walkthrough by Board Game Geek as I find an actual human explaining is always the best way to learn.
▶️ Click Here
However, the Fort instructions are some of the easiest to understand that I've ever seen so many players mightn't need the tutorial.
Written by Tom Conmy
POV: Fort Level 5 ⭐️
Thanks Tom. Very helpful review.