Earthborne Rangers is a card game that lets you build your own character and decide to ignore the main story, just like a TTRPG!
In Earthborne Rangers, the wilderness of the far future calls to you. You explore a vibrant and lush world of natural wonders and mysterious ruins, encounter wildlife, and uncover the valley’s secrets. All while taking on a ranger persona in a cooperative card card.
| Quick Guide | |
|---|---|
| Mechanics | Cooperative Deck Construction Card Game |
| Players | 1-4 Players |
| Playing Time | 60 to 240 Minutes |
| Similar Games | Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game |
| Publisher | Earthborne Games |
Earthborne Rangers Overview
Starting as a Kickstarter by Earthborne Games, Earthborne Rangers was introduced as a “customizable, cooperative, adventure card game set in the wilderness of the far future.” The game quickly met and exceeded its funding goal with $454,605 on a $100,000 goal from 4,755 unique backers.
The game can almost be played more as an open-world RPG when you focus on exploring the richly designed world and the story of your ranger’s discovery of it. At its core, this is definitely a card game, sure. But it’s also a game where you can go where you want and explore what there is to be found. You can follow the main path, or take your own path through some side stories.
There is also a level of customizability to Earthborne Rangers. Much like an RPG, you build your own character, but here you do so by building their deck. You’ll build a deck that reflects their history, personality, and interests. And as you travel and explore, you’ll update that deck with new equipment, skills, and memories.
How To Play Earthborne Rangers
In Earthborne Rangers, each player takes on the role of a ranger and a protector of the valley. At the beginning of gameplay, players will assemble a deck to represent their ranger’s aspects background, specialty, personality, and interests.
The game itself is set up as a campaign and follows a main storyline over a number of in-game days. Each day the rangers will travel between various locations, meeting (and helping) villagers, and dealing with dangerous obstacles and predators. Your band of rangers can choose to stick to the main story or explore one of the side missions. But these decisions will shape who your ranger is by adding cards to their deck.
Games are made up of rounds, and each round is played in turns. On their turn, rangers can play a card from their hand or choose an action card from the table. These action cards allow the world to come alive and the players to interact with the world around them.
Gameplay itself can be a little involved or confusing the first time. But the Earthborne Rangers campaign guide has a prologue complete with a guided first session as well as help building your first ranger deck.
Should I Buy This Game?
Earthborne Rangers is a beautiful, unique, and truly interesting game with a lot of potential for customization and replayability. But I have seen so many people express that they appreciate the game and recognize that it’s good, but haven’t enjoyed it much themselves. So should you buy it? I want to say yes. But I also recognize that this game isn’t exactly cheap. So instead I will say that you should absolutely play Earthborne Rangers. Whether that will be a friend’s copy, with a borrowed copy at a game cafe, or somewhere else, I’m not sure. But if you are enjoy open-world RPGs and card games and would like to see them combined, Earthborne Rangers should be right at home on your game shelf.
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