Seasons - Tabletop Game Review

Seasons is a card-drafting / hand management game where each player is a powerful sorcerer taking part in a grand magic tournament.

The game takes place over two parts - The Prelude and The Tournament.

During the Prelude, players are each death nine cards, choose one from their pack and pass the remaining cards to the player next to them.  This process continues until there are no cards left.  

Each card can net you Crystals (victory points), Energy (four elements, used to play cards and use powers), and other special abilities.  Also, each card played is worth a certain amount of points at the end of the game.  With their new stack of nine, they organize them into 3 piles (1 for each "year" of play) of 3 cards each, then pick up the pile for year 1 - they can use these cards in the first, second, and third year; the next pile in the second and third; the last pile in the third year only.  

THE TOURNAMENT
Players roll dice depending on the season, choosing abilities based on the die faces to help them summon cards to their play area, transmute energy for points, and claim the title of sorcerer supreme! 
​
As this game is called Seasons, play progresses over 3 "years," or 12 "seasons."  Each season has its own set of dice to roll, giving variable options to the players, and players have some control over how fast or slow the seasons change.  

At the end of 3 years, the players total up their cards and any other Crystal bonuses at the end of the game.  The highest total wins!

Before my final rating, some notes.
Time: the box says 60 minutes, but aim for 90-120.  The game only takes an hour IF players are extremely fast on making their play decisions, and with so many options available turn to turn, that just isn't viable.  So carve out about 2 hours and you'll have a blast.
Age: 14+, but doable with anyone 10+.  It can be a lot to manage, though, so I leave that to all. 

Game Rating

Awesomeness: 4/5
Learning Curve: Moderate (10 minute teach)
Family-friendly: YES
​Final Verdict: I LOVE Seasons.  Dice Rolling with hand management in a colorful, engaging game with a lot of changing variables through the changing seasons.  There are MANY ways to win, which makes the game easy to pick up and supports tons of different strategies.  That lets folks play their way without getting them stuck in the back, which makes the game automatically more fun for more people.

Seasons is published through Libellud, and designed by the awesome Régis Bonnessée.
You can find it at most game hobby shops and on Amazon.com.