Serviceable, if a bit dusty – Carcassonne Review

A recent convert to iOS devices, this is one of the few games (if not the only game) I used to play on Android which is entirely different between the two platforms. I understand Asmodee couldn’t release an iOS version of their adaptation due to licensing arrangements ... but now that I’ve spent some time with this version, I really wish something could have been worked out. This app feels old. The version 1 Carcassonne artwork, the mellow music (which, for some reason, fades away entirely after a few minutes), the rudimentary sound effects — all of these could benefit from a facelift in future updates. Coming from a game with lots of atmospheric effects & gorgeous 3D graphics, this version feels like a step (or a few steps) backwards. I especially hate the spaces left between tiles as they’re played. It’s a waste of screen real estate once the board begins to expand, and not at all true to how the physical game would be played. The AI is shockingly brutal! A few games against what are meant to be the least challenging opponents, and I’ve yet to win a single one. I don’t need to win to have fun, but it’s surprising to see a simple/easy opponent like the Maid have such a strong grasp on stealing cities/blocking their completion. I can only imagine playing against the harder opponents would make for a very dismal experience. Despite my qualms, I did find plenty to like in this version. The solitaire option is a very clever & satisfyingly challenging experience. I can easily see myself settling in for an hour or so to unwind just in a few solitaire games. I also appreciate the option to disable fields, as I’ve always found them a very unnecessarily finicky scoring option in the physical game (though Asmodee’s version handles fields even better with a toggle to view, at a glance, which players control which fields). The artwork for the AI opponents is also very attractively done — much better than the broad caricatures of the old Android version, and than the lifeless emblems in Asmodee’s new version (Frank and his 8-bit tiles are a hilarious Easter egg, and I’m glad I took the time to explore the entire app & unearth him). At the end of the day, I’m glad to have a digital version of one of my favorite tabletop games. For solitaire challenges, impromptu pass-and-play game sessions at a cafe/the office/a party, and to save a bit of space when traveling, this is $10 well spent. I just wish the app had a bit more polish to bring it aesthetically into line with the many digital board games which have followed it.
Review by S. Gresham on Carcassonne.