Ora et Labora

About this board game

Ora et Labora is a highly engaging and strategic board game designed by Uwe Rosenberg, the mastermind behind other popular games like Agricola and Le Havre. This game is set in the medieval times, where you play as the head of a monastery, with the objective to expand your lands and increase your wealth.

The game’s title – Ora et Labora, which translates to ‘Pray and Work’ encapsulates the core theme of the game. As a monastic leader, you must balance your spiritual duties with the physical work of managing and growing your land. The game’s unique setting, set against a backdrop of monastic life during medieval times, sets it apart from other board games.

The core mechanics of Ora et Labora are resource management and building. Players must strategically manage their resources – such as clay, wood, and grain – to build structures, which in turn provide additional resources or victory points. The game features a unique resource wheel to track the availability and growth of resources, adding another layer of strategy and planning to the gameplay.

What truly makes Ora et Labora unique, apart from its theme and setting, is its intricate balance between strategy and adaptability. The resource wheel and building mechanics offer a multitude of strategies for players to pursue. However, the availability of resources and buildings can change based on other players’ actions, requiring players to constantly adapt their strategies to the changing game landscape.

Furthermore, Ora et Labora offers two different settings – Ireland and France – each with its own unique set of buildings and resources, providing replayability and a different strategic challenge each time you play. Whether you’re a fan of resource management games, medieval history, or simply looking for a deep and strategic board game, Ora et Labora is sure to provide a challenging and engaging gaming experience.