Life in Reterra review: "I can see it becoming a modern classic"

Life in Reterra shows the end of the world as we know it, but you'll feel fine. This isn't a grotty post-apocalypse; you won't find a single zombie or viking biker gang to fend off. There's also a distinct lack of "we were the monsters all along, actually." Instead, it's a cozy calamity. Nature is reclaiming civilization, relics of the past are being recycled, and everyone seems swell. It's weirdly uplifting.

Its gameplay is a fan of recycling too. Life in Rettera is inspired by some of today's best board games, and that leaves us with a moreish experience which is accessible yet strategic. Honestly, it took me by surprise; I rarely rave about new games after playing them, but this one? It's something special. 

Features & design

• Tile-laying gameplay similar to Carcassonne
• Colorful apocalypse with a unique style
• Includes smart, high-quality storage solutions

Society may be over in this strategy board game designed by the legendary Eric M. Lang and Ken Gruhl, but it's not so bad. Nature is healing, and the remnants of humanity – us players – must rebuild from the odds and ends left behind. 

Between two and four players will construct settlements by placing board tiles and filling them with buildings that grant either points or special abilities. Whoever gets the highest score by the time everyone has finished a 16-tile square will win. Simple, right? Sort of. Because there are so many ways to earn a living here (ranging from relic collecting to stacking the effects of your buildings) it's approachable but complex enough to keep you engaged.

Its visuals are just as memorable. Using a cartoon style bursting with verve, Life in Reterra is a far cry from the realistic settings you often see in board games for adults. It's an appealing aesthetic without feeling kitsch.

The game is unexpectedly practical as well. So many fail to come up with storage solutions for their components, but Life in Reterra doesn't. It provides plastic, lidded trays for everything to fit neatly inside, and this is a rare  – not to mention classy – move so far as I'm concerned.

Gameplay

• Tight, tense matches where every move counts
• Multiple sets of mix-and-match buildings give lots to do
• There's always another tactic or approach to try

Despite its post-apocalyptic vibe, Life in Reterra is all too relatable; there's never enough time to do everything you want. That's how it gets its (probably radioactive) claws into you. There's always something else you could have done each session, or a different approach you might have taken that could've turned the tide.

This is due to the limited number of turns you've got per match. Seeing as the game ends once you've finished a four-by-four square of tiles (16 tiles in total), and you draw those from a communal pool or secret selection given to each player at the beginning of the match, dallying isn't an option. Life in Reterra's buildings often benefit one another if you can play them at the right moment too, so you'll need to come up with a plan faster than you can say "nuclear fallout." Sessions are unlikely to be predictable as a result.

This adds to the game's tantalizing blend of risk and reward. Because buildings can only be placed if they're touching a tile you just played (exactly like Carcasonne's meeples), you have to decide whether you'll wait for the perfect opportunity or make the most of what's in front of you in case things don't pan out later. Similarly, buildings can only be put onto spaces in the same biome. 

Basically, a tile's orientation is every bit as important as where it goes in the first place. I learned that the hard way; I've been known to trick myself out of points because I didn't leave enough room for bigger buildings.

Seeing as there are match-wide challenges to chase as per Wingspan, you can earn a massive payday if you're able to think ahead. You get extra points for every biome numbering seven squares or more, for instance, and Restaurants only pay out if they're next to other Restaurants within the same biome. It's a fun juggling act.

This is what will keep you returning to Life in Rettera; you've always got a new approach to try, or something else to learn. As a case in point, there are three different sets of buildings (each containing five with unique modifiers on either side) within the core box. You can either play them as is, mix and match in suggested combos, or make your own pick-n-mix sets. That dramatically increases replayability.

OK, so there's not the depth or dazzling interconnectivity you'd expect in more complex strategy games such as Root or Dune: Imperium - Uprising. But then again, it isn't trying to compete with them. Life in Reterra is pitched as a 'lite' strategy game, and it manages to fulfill that promise with deft skill.

Should you buy Life in Reterra?

If you want an accessible yet deeply compelling strategy game, you need to check out Life in Reterra. Those hoping for tactical masterclasses may be better off with the likes of Scythe, but for everyone else, it doesn't get much better. This is the kind of game you can play with your board game-loving friends and in-laws, which doesn't happen often. 

It captures the magic of the classics, too. Do you love games like Carcassonne, Catan, and Wingspan? Life in Reterra will definitely be your jam. 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Life in Reterra

I spent a few weeks testing Life in Reterra with a variety of players (ranging from matches against my wife to larger sessions with multiple people) to get a sense for how it handled in each instance. I also made sure I learned its mechanics based on the provided instructions alone to gauge how easy it is for newcomers. In addition, I played matches with each set of buildings to see how they compared to one another.

For a more comprehensive look at our process, see our guide to how we test board games, or the wider GamesRadar+ reviews policy. 

Want more recommendations? Be sure to check out these 2-player board games, or the best cooperative board games.