If I told you that a small stone village on the shores of the Orkney Islands inspired a modern board game… would you believe it?

Skara Brae is a real archaeological site, a Neolithic village that lay hidden under the sand for millennia until a violent storm in 1850 brought it to light. What emerged was astonishing: perfectly preserved stone dwellings, complete with beds, cupboards and hearths — all dating back over 5,000 years.

A real time machine that tells how the first stable communities in Europe lived. But how can a board game do justice to such beauty and history? The answer is well known by Shem Phillips and Sam Phillips , the minds behind Garphill Games, the New Zealand publishing house that has already given us masterpieces such as Paladins of the Western Kingdom .

🎲 Why make a board game out of it?

Skara Brae is not a game about conquering kingdoms or building cathedrals. Here, the mission is very different: to survive. To manage essential resources, to live in balance with nature — just as the original inhabitants of Skara Brae did. It is a strategic challenge, intimate and poetic, that goes beyond simple game mechanics: it is a journey into the details of a past life, crafted with an intensity that will make you reflect on every choice you make.

🧠 The Authors: When Talent Stays in the Family

Shem Phillips is one of the most appreciated authors of eurogames in the world. With Skara Brae , Shem wanted to add an even more personal and intimate dimension to his design, supported by his brother Sam Phillips , who not only takes care of the illustration of the game, but is also a fundamental part of the creative vision of the brand. Garphill Games, in fact, is a family matter, and this is clearly perceived in the work they have done together.

Every game is a piece of heart, and Skara Brae in particular, with its refined and deep design, is a silent tribute to memory, to care, to the simplicity of real things.

🔍 Curiosities you won't find in the box

One of the most fascinating features of Skara Brae is the “Midden,” which is not just a design concept, but a historical reality: in Neolithic villages, the midden represented the shared dumping ground, often used to insulate the walls of houses. In the game, accumulating resources generates waste that reduces the available space — a detail that makes the game even more authentic.

The solo mode is another strong point: without a complex automaton, Skara Brae offers a solo gaming experience that is essential and challenging, a true personal puzzle to solve.

❤️ Who is this board game for?

If you like board games that involve you emotionally, where every choice counts more than luck and where the playing time is short but intense, Skara Brae is a little gem that will speak to you. It is not a flashy game, but it knows how to get under your skin, just like a story told in front of a lit fire. It is perfect for those looking for a solitaire game that tells a story without the need for words.

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