RA by 25th Century Games – Ancient Egyptian Theme, Auction and Set-Collection Board Game, for 2-5 Players and Ages 12+

"Ra" is one of famed boardgame designer Reiner Knizia's most famous games. It's like you're playing an ancient Egyptian venture capitalist or hedge fund manager. You have to decide where to place your bids, taking into consideration what other players are doing and your own funds. Lots of depth and psychology, but simple rules. A classic for reason, revered by even the most experienced boardgamers. I think 3 players is the sweet spot, 4-5 is great, and 2 is passable but not ideal.I've owned two other editions, and this one is by far the best. Why? A couple of reasons.(1) Ra was never a particularly complicated game, but for new players, it can be tricky to keep track of the scoring rules without some kind of player aid during the game. Some previous editions put the scoring rules on the board, but that's not a great solution because not everyone can see it easily. This new edition comes with a fantastic player aid that explains all the scoring rules. It's got a lot of symbols, but it serves its purpose once you learn the lingo (takes maybe 5-10 minutes).(2) The art is phenomenal. It's vibrant! The other editions emulated the style of "discovered Egyptian artifacts," ie, drab and brown. This one feels like you're experiencing some quality Egyptian art.(3) The tiles are chunky and are VERY easy to read. With some of the old editions, it was hard to tell if a tile was a Nile or a Flood, for example. That's solved here (even for color blind players) because each tile has a clear written symbol up top.By the way, I own both the STANDARD and "Deluxe" pharaoh edition of this game (the deluxe is only on 25th Century Games' site right now, and is selling out fast). I think both are great. You absolutely can't go wrong with the standard edition. The tiles are chunky, and the money tokens are actually better (because although they are cardboard and not metal, they are colored by value ,so they're easier to sort).Great game!

Ra is a classic game. Ra has simple rules but deep strategy. We've played this version three times now. Play through with 4 players has been about an hour each time. While the game looks like social solitaire, it's actually very interactive. Each player is watching, waiting to see which tile will be pulled. Will the other players want to bid if there is an auction? Should I wait or invoke Ra now so I can bid last? This version will always have a space on my shelf.Pros:* New players can do well, but the game also rewards experience and replays* The production quality is great, especially for the price. The cardboard tiles are durable, and statues add a nice table presence.* The revised player boards really help explain the rules and scoring. Once you realize how to read them, they show all scoring conditions and tile counts.* Set up and teaching new players to play takes less than 10 minutesCons:* There are some areas where the rule book could offer more clarity, but the quick guide on the back is super helpful.* I wish the coins came in a container. It's kind of fiddly to pass out coins at the end of the Epoch.

I’ve wanted to own this board game ever since I first encountered it 10 years ago. Back then, I didn’t even know what the gameplay was about—I was simply drawn to the Egyptian-themed artwork. Now, a decade later, I’ve come across this edition with artwork by Ian O'Toole, and I couldn’t resist buying it, captivated by its perfect visuals. It turned out to be even more satisfying than I anticipated. Not only is it visually stunning, but the individual player boards are designed with optimal convenience in mind, which is a huge plus.In terms of gameplay, it’s a bit different from the “strategic” experience I had imagined in my younger years. The game revolves around blocking others and the luck of drawing tiles, making it far lighter and more enjoyable than its weighty appearance might suggest.

Great game.. good quality and fun and fast

Excellent components to an excellent game from an excellent game designer. Very pleased with the quality of this version of Ra.

Pleased with my purchase and arrived day earlier :)

Nice condition & game.

I like the game a lot! All the pieces were intact and I love the wooden sundisk and Ra figure ^^The bag is really good too, compared to other board games I've played~