After delays and much anticipation, Umbra Via by Pandasaurus Games is now available. You can now unlock the secrets to a mysterious ancient pathway and guide your way by laying tiles and exploring deeper into the unknown - with the hope to pick up all of your flowers along the way.

Umbra Via // Pandasaurus Games

Players take control of the pathway, traipsing through a thorn-covered, overgrown, ever-changing track. But nature is not completely out to get you! As the flowers will help you guide your way to safety... and success!

This tile-placement board game will require players to bid for different tiles create a devious path to collect 'soul flowers'. The player who collects their selection of flowers first is crowned the winner.

Umbra Via // Pandasaurus Games

A round starts by four path tiles being laid out on the board, players will then bid secretly behind their screens by taking flowers from their player's bag, to propose a tile to be laid on to the game board - in an attempt to create a path later on.

Whoever wins the bid must place their tile onto the board, and players will add the other tiles in an attempt to eventually create a closed pathway. This closed pathway will enable players to complete a pathway and will be scored by what player has the most energy flowers within that track. Forcing every player to become tactical in each flower and tile placement to win.

Umbra Via // Pandasaurus Games

I am not sure how I would tackle this, as it is certainly unique. It is easy to get into the heads of your opponents by tripping them up where you can, by placing tiles somewhere that may not benefit your contenders. However, you could simply plan your path to success with the hope that another player will not try to trip you up!

The game is designed for 2-4 players, and for ages 8+, so you can bring the whole family together for a game of Umbra Via within 30-45 minutes. Although, I do anticipate arguments if you are a back-stabby player... every table has one meanie!

What do you think of the concept of Umbra Via?