How it plays
Each player leads a Stone Age group of two humans, usually with strength, dexterity or perception. At the start of each day, every player receives a face-down deck. After talking it over together, each player chooses one of the top three cards of their deck by its back: for example forest, river, home or, in red, usually a danger. The revealed card offers options, such as hunting a deer; payment is usually made with cards given up, which represent time. At night, every human has to eat, otherwise it costs a skull. Five victory point tokens bring victory for everyone, five skulls bring defeat.
What it can help develop
Paleo calls for planning ahead: will there be enough food tonight? Which tool is missing for the next danger? Is a deer worth it when it costs cards and therefore time? Every choice of card means weighing risks: the backs only give clues, and red cards given up as payment cause damage. Anyone who helps gives up their own action; the group constantly discusses who takes on what. Failure calls for frustration tolerance.
Especially suitable for
- Children from age 10 with patience and a love of discovery
- Parents and children together against the game
- Small groups over several evenings
Less suitable for
- Children who find it hard to cope with failure
- Spontaneous games: getting started takes time
Our verdict
Paleo is a worthwhile choice for parents and children from age 10 with patience and a love of discovery who want to take on the game together and experience stories over several evenings. In 2021, it won the Kennerspiel des Jahres. Its limitations are the patchy rulebook, a start that takes time, the risk that one person decides everything and the frustration of failing.
Getting started
- Plan for several attempts at the first scenarios: even chapter 1 is considered hard to win.
- At the start of each day, use the card backs to agree together on who reveals which of the top three cards; red backs are usually dangers.
In detail
Variants and player count
According to Hans im Glück, Paleo was designed by Peter Rustemeyer and is intended for 2 to 4 people from age 10; the German publisher gives about 45 to 60 minutes. According to the rules, a player who helps gives up their own action, and the abilities of both groups are added together. The rules advise against playing the first game with four. Reich der Spiele finds the start easier with two, Harald Schrapers considers two or three players better, and Ludovox sees the game shine with two.
What reviewers say
In naming it Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021, the jury of the Spiel des Jahres (German game of the year award) praises how stories and images take shape in the minds of the group and how players learn that they are only strong together. The review round-up by the Spiel des Jahres jury notes that several voices find the rulebook patchy or confusing and that first games of the scenarios are often played several times. Discovery and atmosphere, on the other hand, are praised; Harald Schrapers sees the danger of an alpha player. According to gamesweplay.de, Schrapers finds the rulebook hard to get through and even chapter 1 hard to win. Fairplay calls Paleo a game for explorers that demands frustration tolerance and, because of the many symbols, is difficult to get into.
How it compares
Pandemic (from age 8, 2 to 4 people, about 45 minutes) shares the skill areas cooperation as well as logic and planning with Paleo. Like Paleo, Pandemic calls for planning ahead, team coordination and weighing up risks, plus impulse control; Pandemic is less suitable for groups in which someone likes to take charge. Bomb Busters (from age 14, 2 to 5 people, about 30 minutes) has the same skill areas and relies on deduction with numbers, in which players have to keep quiet about their own wires. Bomb Busters suits families who play together rather than against each other, less so children who find keeping quiet difficult. Paleo suits small groups over several evenings and children from age 10 with patience and a love of discovery; Paleo is less suitable for children who find it hard to cope with failure, and for spontaneous games.
Sources
- Hans im Glück: Paleo (publisher’s page, in German)
- Hans im Glück: rules, 3rd edition 2021 (PDF, in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Paleo (jury, in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Kritikenrundschau Paleo (review round-up, in German)
- gamesweplay.de: review by Harald Schrapers (in German)
- Reich der Spiele: review (in German)
- Fairplay: review (in German)
- Ludovox: review (in French)
Frequently asked questions
What age is Paleo suitable for?
Paleo is recommended from age 10, and one review considers this accurate. Children with patience, a love of discovery and some frustration tolerance are ready, because failure is part of the game. Anyone who copes badly with setbacks is less well served.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 60 minutes. The game is for 2 to 4 people, who play together against the game: five victory points collected mean a shared victory, five skulls mean defeat.
What skills can Paleo help develop?
It can help develop cooperation as well as logic and planning. For example, the group agrees on who takes which card and thinks ahead about whether the food will last until evening and which equipment will fend off upcoming dangers.
Is the rulebook for Paleo difficult?
Yes, several critics call it patchy or confusing, and the first games of a scenario are often played several times. Reich der Spiele recommends playing with two for an easier start.
