What’s In The Box?
Furnace is a biddng game designed for up to 4 players. The box includes 4 sets of bidding tokens, a deck of company cards, 5 starting capitalist cards, 5 starting company cards, one die, and a variety of resources. Additionally, there are extra tokens to serve as resource multipliers, useful when playing with more players, as well as a round counter to help you track your progress during the game..
Gameplay & Design
Furnace is a straightforward and quick game, played over 4 rounds, each consisting of two phases. Each round begins with an auction phase where players take turns bidding on companies using their bidding tokens, which range in value from one to four. Every player gets the chance to place all of their bids unless they run out of eligible spots. In a two-player game, a third, randomized bidder competes against you, using the provided six-sided die. Once all bids are placed, the highest bidder on each card wins the company, while the other players receive resources for their efforts.
After the auction phase, players move on to the production phase, which can be played simultaneously, although it's recommended to do it together during your first game. In this phase, players utilize their company cards to gather resources, convert resources into other resources, earn points, or upgrade their companies. This cycle repeats for four rounds, and after the final round, players tally their points to determine who will be crowned the ultimate capitalist.
In my opinion, the game's visuals are where it falls short. The gameplay itself is fun, engaging, and occasionally a bit cutthroat, but the industrial cards all look very similar—just generic industrial buildings. While this is intentional, it makes them blend together, so I found myself focusing more on what the companies provided rather than their appearance. Even though the game is set in a coal-colored, somewhat dreary era, it's still possible to maintain that atmosphere while making the visuals more interesting.
Feedback
The game could make a stronger impression if its components were more distinctive. Visually, it falls a bit short, which often leads me to choose other bidding games first. The biggest drawback, however, is its replayability. While the auction phase is fun and exciting, the production phase feels less engaging, as everyone is focused on their own tasks. If that phase were more interactive, I'd likely be more inclined to revisit the game.
Verdict
Furnace has its highs and lows, but overall, it's a well-designed game, it’s just not for me. The auction phase strikes the perfect balance of engagement, offering a chance to be strategically ruthless. However, the game loses some momentum afterward; the company cards lack uniqueness, and the production phase feels repetitive. If you enjoy board games where half the time is spent bidding against opponents and the other half is spent working through your own system, then Furnace could be a good fit for you. Personally, I've played other bidding games that I found more enjoyable, and this one just didn’t meet that standard for me.
