Jigūan: The Eastern Mechanist

About this board game

Jigūan: The Eastern Mechanist is a board game for 2–4 players, with play lasting around 90 minutes. Released in 2019, it casts each player as a master mechanist working to create unique mechanical beasts and advance through the Five Pagodas.

Jiguan is described as a form of ancient Chinese science and mechanical engineering. In the old days, its powerful weapons and machines were so advanced that common people believed they possessed mysterious powers. In the game, your creations bring honor while contributing to the advancement of Eastern civilization.

To develop your creations, you must acquire the resources and capabilities needed to complete them. The central aims of each mechanist include:

• Acquiring parts for mechanical beasts
• Obtaining energy
• Improving your skills
• Completing your creations

Building mechanical beasts can help you advance your place on the Five Pagodas. It can also provide access to new blueprints or bonus cards, giving your progress additional importance as you work toward the end-game objective.

The game is divided into two Periods. When the supplies of parts run out, the current Period ends and scoring is calculated. After the second Period, players compare their Honor Points, which function as victory points.

In Jigūan: The Eastern Mechanist, the player with the most Honor Points at the end of the game wins. Create remarkable machines, develop your mechanist’s abilities, and seek the highest place among the Five Pagodas.