Gaia Project - Buyer's Guide

Explore uncharted planets, manage resources & build alliances in Gaia Project, a strategic board game adaptation with a challenging AI and fresh gameplay.
Fan-art of Gaia Project

In Gaia Project, players vie for dominance by guiding one of 14 factions to colonize uncharted planets, harmoniously adapting to each world’s unique environmental needs. Through resource management, structural upgrades, and strategic alliances, factions balance dominance with sustainability. As technological breakthroughs unfold, players must navigate interdependence and competition, ultimately vying for the most developed faction to reign supreme.

Should I play Gaia Project in 2024?

The good

Gaia Project’s digital adaptation brings a lot to the table:

  • Faithfulness to the Original: Fans of the board game will be pleased with how true it stays to the original rules.
  • Simplified Mechanics: The digital version simplifies complex calculations, offering players clear, instant feedback on actions and costs, speeding up gameplay.
  • Increased Speed: The game plays faster than the physical version due to the elimination of manual calculations.
  • Flexible Action Choices: Players can choose how to execute actions, whether by clicking on the building icon first or selecting a planet.

The bad

However, there are some notable drawbacks:

  • Poor UI Design: The user interface is not intuitive, with unclear symbols and inconsistent use of text or animations to depict actions.
  • Inadequate Tutorial: The tutorial fails to thoroughly teach new players the game’s rules and is plagued by bugs.
  • Stability Issues: Frequent bugs can freeze the game, making it impossible to load saved games or complete the tutorial.
  • Accessibility Concerns: The color scheme is problematic for colorblind players, and sound issues are present on Linux.
  • Clunky Layout: The digital layout is less user-friendly compared to the board game, making it tough to navigate for new players.

Verdict

Should you still buy or play Gaia Project in 2024? 🌟

Gaia Project’s digital version is a double-edged sword. It’s a faithful, faster adaptation of the beloved board game, with plenty of conveniences. However, it’s marred by UI issues, an ineffective tutorial, and significant bugs. If you’re a seasoned Gaia Project player who can overlook these flaws and are eager for a digital experience, it might be worth a shot. But for newcomers, this version’s current state may frustrate more than it entertains. So, proceed with caution or stick to the physical game for now. 🎲

Would you roll the dice on this one? 🤔



Visit the game's website Get the game on Steam

In-game Screenshot

Screenshot of Gaia Project

Top image is not real in-game screenshots. Fan-art made by Gamer.se. Some game metadata is coming from RAWG