Matthew BaileyGame 43 of the “Now & Then Summer Marathon 2024” is “Little Alchemists” played with Jack(9) & Toby(6).
Having been intrigued by “Little Alchemists” at the UK Games Expo but not actually getting around to playing it, I was quite excited when an advanced copy of the game arrived in the post a few days ago. What I didn’t expect was that once the boys and I started playing, this game would potentially become my favourite new game of the Summer.
Disclaimer: Everything discussed in this review pertains to the base game and what is unlocked from the start. I’ve been very careful to avoid spoilers beyond this point, as unlocking the boxes is a delightful experience, and I wouldn’t want to ruin it for anyone.
“Little Alchemists” is a family game based on the original “Alchemists” game released in 2014. It sees you and your cousins spending the summer at your grandpa’s house, who was an alchemist in the main game, and training as little alchemists to carry on his legacy.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that “Little Alchemists” is a legacy game. When you open the box, there are seven sealed boxes that you unlock as you achieve things as a team. Even though the game itself is competitive, it’s really nice knowing that regardless of who wins, you all contribute to unlocking new bits.
The general idea of the base game is that there’s a market of ingredients in front of you, as well as a selection of customers who are looking to buy your potions. Each player has a screen and an area where they can place ingredient tiles. Additionally, they receive a triangular tracker to record the results of their alchemy experiments. Everyone starts with some coins, and a bottle is used later to keep track of where you’ve sold to a customer.
What makes this game particularly enchanting is the companion app (which doesn’t require an online connection). The “Little Alchemists” app is used to scan your ingredients and tell you what potion you’ve made. The reason this is necessary, beyond being really cool, is that the potion outcomes change every game, meaning you can’t just memorise what ingredients make which potion. On your turn, you make a potion by placing two ingredients in your ingredient holder and scanning them with the app to discover which colour potion they create. You then take a corresponding token, visible to all players, and place it in your grid as a reminder of what potion those ingredients make. However, this information is secret to each individual player and mustn’t be shared.
This is a key mechanic because, as you progress through the game and customers arrive at your shops, you need to make specific colour potions to earn coins, and this information may be helpful in knowing what makes what.
The first level finishes when there are no customers remaining. In addition to determining the winner based on who has the most coins, you also take a really cool quiz about your knowledge of the ingredients to unlock the second level.
Once you unlock the second level, the game truly begins to come into its own. Without giving too much away, you start making deductions about which ingredients create which potions, using this information to gain further points. I don’t want to reveal much more, but suffice it to say, that unlocking the boxes adds meaningful depth to the game at each level. The complexity builds gradually, to the point where Toby, who’s six, was perfectly able to follow along as we unlocked each level. However, had we jumped straight to a higher level, he might have found it a bit complex, so this gradual introduction is extremely well done. While these steps are gradual each one felt meaningful something which isn’t always the case even in previous family legacy heavyweights such as the Zombie Kidz/Teenz games.
The game also features an outstandingly well-written rulebook that unlocks as you progress, with seal stickers you peel off. Everything is integrated into the app, which teaches you through tutorial sections as you play. Each stage is accompanied by wonderful animations that tell the story of you becoming little alchemists and following in your grandfather’s footsteps.
The artwork is lovely, and the unlocks happen at a reasonable pace; we unlocked a new box every one to three games. On the first night we played, we played four games back-to-back, which isn’t something we usually do, as variety tends to be the rule in our house. But the boys have already asked to unlock the last level we have yet to explore tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see what it is.
There’s just something magical and enchanting about playing this game—opening the boxes, playing with the cards, and using the app. Everything works together in such a brilliant way that it truly feels like something special. While I know many of these mechanics are present in the original “Alchemists,” as a game for younger children and as a perfect bridge from simple to more complex games, this is absolutely ideal.
One key aspect is that, even though you add a lot of components, nothing changes to the point where you can’t play the game at a lower level, even once you’ve completed all the levels and unlocked everything. You can go back and play any version of the game from any previous level, allowing you to find the best complexity for you and your children. This is something genuinely I am not sure I have ever seen before.
Based on what I saw at the UK Games Expo, I knew I was going to like “Little Alchemists,” but I wasn’t prepared for just how spellbound I’d be by the whole package. This is a game I strongly recommend to anyone reading this review. Whether you’re just getting into more complex board games, this will help you bridge the gap. If you’re a massive fan of legacy games, this one is absolutely brilliant. If you like a puzzle game with a bit of lateral thinking, this is also really good. Even though it’s a competitive game, the cooperative elements of unlocking boxes smooth out any losses, especially early on when children are learning the game. The components are fantastic, the artwork is beautiful, and I can’t sing this game’s praises enough. The game itself is great but the whole package is where this sings.
Jack has enjoyed it so much that once we’re finished, he’s really keen to get the full “Alchemists” game that he and I can play together as well.
“Little Alchemists” is due out around October and can be pre-ordered now from most major board game websites for around £40-45. For what you get in this box, that is extremely good value. I’ve spent a lot of time recommending “Zombie Kids” and “Zombie Teenz” as the best legacy games for children, but we definitely have a new queen in town.
This is truly something special.
Disclaimer: A preview copy of “Little Alchemists” was provided by “Czech Games Edition” for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have taken the game’s price into account.
