S

Large positive impact with little-to-no negative impact.

Renaissance

[Wiki]¹

Complexity

7/10

Mechanically simpler than some other expansions to the point that is easy to learn and immediately integrate as a first expansion. Cards are still complex enough to be interesting for both beginners and experts.

Impact

10/10

Emphasis on trash-for-benefit and extra Action gains trhough Villagers and village cards heavily favours engine strategies.

Cross-expansion experience

10/10

Every card works well individually and does not rely on the synergy of other cards to be playable. Yet, many of the cards positive cross-expansion synergies anyways, especially for engine-building.

Flavour

10/10

Internally, it is themetically consistent and externally coherent with other sets, even with Dark Ages. Cards never feel out of place.

Positive highlights

Projects

Projects are interesting, highly-impactful and add more to the gameplay than many other landscape cards.

Flag Bearer

Very simple yet interesting card that results in high-player interaction.

Negative highlights

Recruiter

Arguably the most powerful card in the game, if not one of them. However, the experience of Recruiter being on the game is generally always a positive one despite this, because it boosts engines. As a result, the only negative part of Recruiter is that it dominates games by becoming the central focus for all strategies.

Villain

The dud of the set, although not-unplayable, is often forgettable.

Conclusion

Large positive impact with little negative impact.

Menagerie

[Wiki]²

Adventures

[Wiki]³

Dark Ages

Wiki

Empires

[Wiki]⁴

B

Good positive impact with some negative impact.

Intrigue

[Wiki]⁵

Guilds

[Wiki]⁶

Cornucopia

[Wiki]⁷

Hinterlands

[Wiki]⁸

Base

C

Mixed positive and negative impact.

Nocturne

[Wiki]⁹

Prosperity

[Wiki]¹⁰

Seaside

[Wiki]¹¹

D

More negative impact than positive.

Alchemy

[Wiki]¹²