Scythe is a board game set in an alternate-history 1920s period.

It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor. In Scythe, each player represents a fallen leader attempting to restore their honor and lead their faction to power in Eastern Europa.

Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.

Scythe is now available on Steam Early Access (PC/Mac) for $19.99.

Scythe’s digital edition fuses dieselpunk-themed artwork by the game’s original artist, Jakub Rozalski, with a digital interface to bring Scythe to digital audiences while keeping the signature look and feel of the board game.

“Scythe was a breakout hit among board game enthusiasts when it launched in 2016,” says Philippe Dao, Chief Marketing Officer of Asmodee Digital. “We are thrilled to work alongside Stonemaier Games and The Knights of Unity to give Scythe new life on Windows and Mac.”

“Ever since we launched Scythe to gamers worldwide in 2016, fans have asked us to make a digital version. We were excited when The Knights of Unity partnered with Asmodee Digital to make it a reality,” said Jamey Stegmaier, Scythe designer and publisher at Stonemaier Games. “It’s been a pleasure to see how the Knights and Asmodee Digital have combined forces to keep the game’s vision while adapting to the constraints--and perks--of the digital format.”

Features:

• Asymmetry: Each player begins the game with different resources (strength, victory points, movement capabilities, and popularity), their choice of several faction-specific abilities, and a hidden goal. Starting positions are specially calibrated to contribute to each faction’s uniqueness and the asymmetrical nature of the game.
• Strategy: Scythe gives players almost complete control over their fate. Other than each player’s individual hidden objective cards, the only elements of luck are encounter cards that players will draw as they interact with the citizens of newly explored lands and combat cards that give you a temporary boost in combat. Combat is also driven by choices, not luck or randomness.
• Engaged Play: Scythe uses a streamlined action-selection mechanism (no rounds or phases) to keep gameplay moving at a brisk pace and reduce downtime between turns. While there is plenty of direct conflict, there is no player elimination, nor can units be killed or destroyed.
  Engine Building: Players can upgrade actions to become more efficient, build structures that improve their position on the map, enlist new recruits to enhance character abilities, activate mechs to deter opponents from invading, and expand their borders to reap greater types and quantities of resources. These engine-building aspects create a sense of momentum and progress throughout the game. The order in which players improve their engine adds to the unique feel of each game, even when playing one faction multiple times.