Spirits Of Christmas Game Review

 Even old Scrooge – or Scrooge – would be hard-pressed to find fault with the latest project from Humble Bard Games. Charles Dickens’ popular story “A Christmas Carol,” about a stingy old moneylender in industrial-era London, has inspired at least half a dozen board games. Among them are Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” (which featured Mickey Mouse as Scrooge testing the audience’s trust quite a bit) and “The Haunting of Christmas.”

ABOUT THE GAME

 Designer John S. Bailey is a teacher in the field of everyday life and has a special connection to "A Christmas Carol." In his words:

 "The themes and morals of this story are rich and deep. Everyone will likely take something from it that challenges them. For me, I can relate to Scrooge as a person in many ways… my connection to Scrooge has nothing to do with money. His character, the way he sees the world, the kinds of disappointments he's experienced, and how quickly he forgets the wonderful things from his past that could have changed his life for the better if he'd let them."

 The game fully reflects these sentiments.

DESCRIPTION

 Spirits of Christmas is a medium-easy cooperative/solo strategy game where players use a turn table and card-based actions to guide Ebenezer Scrooge on his journey from miser to saint in Victorian London.

 Fans of solo and multiplayer card games from developers like Button Shy and Solo Game of the Month's Gabe Barrett will recognize a lot of familiarity in Spirits. But what sets it apart is:

• six levels of difficulty that gradually make the game more difficult;
• seven "communication modes" for multiplayer;
• three plot options.

 This gives you ten different ways to play, both solo and co-op. It takes about five minutes to unpack and familiarize yourself with the rules before your first game. The variety of strategies means that replayability is very high.

COMPONENTS

 The game components are high-quality and extremely themed. The spirits that visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve are instantly recognizable – no matter which film adaptation you prefer, from Albert Finney (the designer’s favorite) to The Muppets (my personal favorite).

 Wooden tokens, linen card covers, black-core cards, and thick cardboard coins add depth to the atmosphere. And this is important: while many see Scrooge as nothing more than a symbol of brutal capitalism, Dickens wasn't writing about economic systems - he wanted to show the Scrooge in each of us.

 The game's beautiful illustrations were created by the designer's daughter, capturing not only the family's joy at the source material, but also Scrooge's gradual transformation.

GAME PROCESS

 Players start with “spirit cards” that pay for actions and complete scenes in each “chapter” of the story. The size of the hand depends on the number of players: in a solo game – 5 cards, and with 5–6 players – only 2.

 "Scene cards" can be laid out randomly (the basic option) or in order - in the complex "Story Option".

 Each section corresponds to one of the three spirits of Christmas – past, present and future. A unique spirit token is placed on the roundel. Players move it by spending coins, which quickly run out, so choice and risk are critical here. Coins also affect the scoring. It's a clever mechanic: no one wants to be a miser like Scrooge, but the game makes you feel at least a little bit like him.

 Actions on the rondel allow you to:

• move Scrooge to another scene,
• to exchange or play cards,
• get 3 cards.

 Completing a scene requires the right combination of spirit traits (joy, compassion, mercy). The balance of these traits changes with each chapter, making the game dynamic and unpredictable.

ADDITIONAL MECHANICS

 To complete a chapter, you need to complete all or just the "shaded" scenes (marked with a bow). The only problem is that they are difficult to distinguish in low light.

• "Torch of Prosperity" gives bonuses if activated on the rondel in time.
• “Gift cards” provide starting advantages, adding variability.

END

 The section ends when:

• players are running out of money,
• all the "shadow" scenes have been played out,
• All scenes of the chapter have been completed.

 After three chapters (or sooner if resources are exhausted), the game ends. If players complete all three chapters without going bankrupt, they win. The level of victory is determined by the points table.

 On the lowest difficulty, victory seems easy, but as the difficulty increases, the game becomes a serious challenge.

RESULT

 Spirits of Christmas is a solid board game from the developer of Holdout, Song of the Seas, and Roll-With-It. It will appeal to both card game fans and those who appreciate a strong theme.

 The atmosphere of industrial London, combined with the emotional light of Christmas, makes the game a great option for a cozy evening party by the fireplace on the eve of the holidays. Thanks to its compactness, simple rules and deep strategies, it can take you from “Deception!” to “Joy of the World” in a matter of minutes.

 And yes, Little Tim (spoiler alert) – survived.

 Spirits of Christmas is a crowdfunded game now available from Humble Bard Games. It’s not yet rated on Board Game Geek, but it’s sure to become a favorite that will stay on your table well after the holidays.