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Euro (deck-building + worker placement)2018
Obsession box art

Box art via BoardGameGeek

Euro (deck-building + worker placement)

Obsession

A Downton Abbey fantasy with a sharp Euro engine humming underneath.

3.9 out of 53.9/5

Designed by Dan Hallagan · 2018

Players1-4
Play time60-90 min
WeightMedium-Heavy
Ages14+
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The verdict

One of the warmest Euros out there, and one of the few where the theme actually does work. If you can stomach a thinky planning puzzle and a draw that doesn't always cooperate, this is a keeper.

Best for: Period-drama lovers who want real Euro chew, and solo players.

The full review

What it is

Obsession drops you into 19th-century Derbyshire as the head of a respectable but cash-strapped family, and your job is to fix that. You build a deck of Victorian gentry, renovate your estate one building tile at a time, and assign a fussy staff of servants to host social events that raise your wealth and reputation. It's deck-building married to worker placement, and the courtship subplot (winning over the snooty Fairchild family) gives the whole thing a spine. Players say the theme actually breathes here.

The catch

Here's the honest part. The rulebook is dense, and the planning runs deep. Lining up the right guests, the right tiles, and the right servants for one good turn can tie newer players in knots. Hardcore strategy folks grumble too, because the guests and tiles you need come off a random draw, so it leans tactical: you adapt to what shows up. And the snowball is real. Whoever lands a monument first tends to pull ahead, and the rich get richer.

Who it's for

But once it clicks, this thing sings. Reviewers regularly hand it 8s and 9s, and the love stuck around long after the launch buzz faded, which tells you something. It's a Euro with a heartbeat, and that's a hard trick to pull off. Get it if you adored Downton or Bridgerton and want real chew, or if you play solo a lot. Skip it if random draws ruin your night or your table hates a dense teach.

What other players say

This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:

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