Tabletop Review - Furnace

Developer: Ivan Lashin

Publisher: Arcane Wonders

Available on: Tabletop

Fuel Your Capitalist Dreams!

Get ready for an exhilarating adventure with Furnace, the ultimate engine-building Eurogame from the mind of Ivan Lashin! Step into the shoes of 19th-century capitalists and unleash your inner tycoon as you build your industrial empire. Compete to amass incredible wealth by acquiring companies, extracting valuable resources, and masterminding the perfect combinations to maximize your profits.

What’s Inside?

The components of Furnace appear at first glance to be scattershot with complexity but are quickly clarified upon gameplay. Included within are startup cards, colored discs, company cards, and tokens. There is no board to speak of, but rather actions are played with tokens atop the company and startup cards.

The Race to The Top

Each player kicks off with a random start-up card, the resources shown at the top, and four vibrant discs designated 1 to 4.

The game is a thrilling four-round journey, each round bursting with excitement in two phases: Auction and Production. During the auction, 6-8 company cards are revealed with their basic sides face up. Players take turns strategically placing one of their discs on a card, but beware! You can't place a disc on a card if there's already a disc of the same value or color. You'll end up placing discs on four different cards.

When all discs are placed, the real fun begins! The cards are resolved from left to right. The player with the highest-valued disc claims the card, but not before anyone with a lower-valued disc on the card gets their due compensation—either the resources depicted multiplied by their disc's value or a processing ability, used up to the value of their disc.

Once all the cards are claimed or discarded, it's production time! Players dive into the production phase, using their cards in any order. Each company card offers one action—production or processing—on its basic side and two actions on its upgraded side. You can use each card once to gather resources, transform them into other resources or money, and upgrade your cards.

After four rounds of intense gameplay, the player with the most money takes the crown! But wait, there's more! Furnace also features unique capitalist cards with special effects. For an extra layer of excitement, deal one to each player at the start. And if you're up for a challenge, create a "production chain" where each new company card is locked in place for the rest of the game.

Verdict

Furnace is an exhilarating, fast-paced game that promises to become a cherished favorite for any tabletop game enthusiast. Its dynamic gameplay and strategic depth ensure endless hours of fun and challenge. Imagine owning a deluxe version of this game: picture high-quality tokens that add a tactile richness to your experience, each piece crafted with care and attention to detail. Envision a specially designed box that not only protects your game but also enhances its aesthetic appeal, making it a standout piece in your collection. The creation of a deluxe edition of Furnace would elevate the gaming experience to new heights, providing both functionality and a touch of luxury. I’d certainly be one of the first to snatch one up! This game has all the makings of a true classic, worthy of a prime spot on your game shelf!

FURNACE IS A MUST BUY!

Special Thanks to UberStrategist who provided a copy of Furnace for the purpose of this review.