The Quest for El Dorado Review

Intro

Reiner Knizia's The Quest for El Dorado drops you into the role of an expedition leader racing through the South American jungle to reach the legendary city of gold. This 2017 release combines deck building with racing mechanics in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. The game accommodates 2-4 players and typically wraps up in about an hour, making it accessible enough for families while offering strategic depth that keeps experienced gamers engaged.

With a BoardGameGeek rating of 7.71 out of 10 and multiple international awards under its belt, El Dorado has proven its staying power. The complexity sits comfortably in the medium-light range—think more sophisticated than Ticket to Ride but not nearly as brain-burning as Terraforming Mars. It's the kind of game where you can explain the rules in five minutes but spend months discovering new strategies.

How It Plays

At its heart, El Dorado is a race game where your deck of cards serves as both your movement engine and your currency. Each player starts with an identical set of basic cards representing different expedition members: machete-wielding scouts, helpful natives, scientists, and photographers. These cards provide various symbols that let you move through different terrain types or buy better cards.

The modular board consists of hexagonal tiles showing jungle paths, rivers, mountains, and villages. Different terrains require specific card types to traverse—you'll need paddles for rivers, machetes for dense jungle, and coins for villages. Your goal is simple: be the first to reach El Dorado at the board's far end.

Here's where the deck building shines. Throughout the game, you can purchase new expedition members from a market using the coin symbols on your cards. Maybe you'll grab some extra paddlers for a river-heavy route, or invest in a powerful explorer who can tackle multiple terrain types. The cards you buy go into your discard pile and eventually cycle into your hand, gradually improving your expedition's capabilities.

The multi-use cards create interesting decisions every turn. Most cards can either provide movement symbols or coins for purchasing, but not both. This constant choice between immediate progress and long-term deck improvement drives the game's tension. Do you push forward now or invest in better cards for later?

Highlights

The genius of El Dorado lies in how it streamlines deck building without dumbing it down. Unlike games where you're building an abstract engine, every card purchase feels thematic and purposeful. You're literally assembling your expedition team, and each new member has a clear role in your jungle adventure.

The variable setup keeps things fresh across multiple plays. The game includes several different board configurations, from the beginner-friendly "Caves" layout to more challenging arrangements with multiple paths and chokepoints. Each map rewards different strategies, encouraging you to adapt your deck-building approach based on the terrain ahead.

Knizia's design elegantly solves many common deck-building problems. The delayed purchase system means cards you buy don't immediately clutter your hand—they go to your discard pile first. This prevents the explosive turns that can break other deck builders. The pacing feels controlled and fair throughout.

The game also handles player interaction beautifully. While you can't directly attack opponents, blocking mechanisms create meaningful player interaction. Certain board spaces only accommodate one expedition, forcing players to compete for optimal routes. It's competitive without being mean-spirited.

Perhaps most importantly, El Dorado delivers genuine excitement. Those final turns when multiple players are within striking distance of El Dorado create nail-biting finishes. The combination of tactical hand management and strategic route planning ensures that both lucky draws and smart planning contribute to victory.

Criticisms

While El Dorado excels as an accessible family deck builder, that accessibility comes with trade-offs. Experienced deck-building enthusiasts might find the card market somewhat limited compared to deeper games in the genre. With only a dozen or so different expedition members available, you'll see most cards in every game. The strategic space, while satisfying, isn't as vast as some players might prefer.

The game's racing format can occasionally feel anticlimactic. Sometimes a player will pull ahead early and maintain their lead throughout, making the final outcome feel predetermined. While the catch-up mechanisms generally work well, they're not always enough to prevent runaway leaders, especially in games with significant skill gaps between players.

Component-wise, while everything is functional and well-produced, nothing particularly stands out. The artwork is pleasant but not spectacular, and the cardboard tokens get the job done without inspiring much excitement. For a game about seeking legendary treasure, the presentation feels somewhat workmanlike. A few more bells and whistles might have elevated the table presence.

Conclusion

The Quest for El Dorado succeeds brilliantly as a gateway to deck building games. If you've been curious about the genre but intimidated by heavier offerings like Dominion or Marvel Legendary, this is your perfect entry point. The thematic integration makes every decision feel meaningful and connected to the jungle expedition story.

Families with kids 10 and up will find this hits the sweet spot between strategy and accessibility. The racing element adds immediate drama that abstract deck builders sometimes lack, while the modular boards provide excellent replay value. Experienced gamers looking for a lighter deck builder that still offers interesting decisions will also find plenty to enjoy.

Ultimately, El Dorado proves that sometimes the best games aren't the most complex ones—they're the ones that perfectly balance their different elements. This quest is definitely worth taking.