There's a trend in video gaming that's not as often embraced in the hobby gaming world: the production of direct sequels and spin-offs to commercially successful games. Board and card game publishers are much more prone to offer expansions that build upon (and require) the base game. So consider me surprised when Z-Man Games announced their plan to publish Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small, a two-player spin-off of the popular European strategy title.
For those not already knee-deep in cardboard counters and wooden cubes, allow me to provide some background. Agricola is a prime case in not judging a book game by its cover, as at first glance, it contains all excitement of hard manual labor: plowing fields and breeding livestock. That is enough to send a sizeable chunk of the board gaming community running for the hills, but those that stick around wind up loving what they find.
Agricola has become the second highest rated board game of all time in the BoardGameGeek.com database, and is a massive commercial success. This is primarily due to Agricola serving as the epitome of Euro-style gaming: tightly balanced competition where victory is determined by skill rather than luck. Yes, farming can get quite intense.
Yet Agricola already offers the option for a 2-player match, so why should gamers be excited about a new 2-player-only experience? Let's dive into the rules for Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small to find out.
