Stories of Skoventyr with Lygtemand and Vogter’s Rescue
Stay ahead of Gamle Erik and enlist clever allies to defeat minions in the beautiful and fairytale-like puzzle found in Skoventyr.
One of the more surprisingly enjoyable solo games on my shelf is Skoventyr. I haven’t played it dozens and dozens of times yet, but it keeps getting better! Playing as Vogter, a badger, is memorable enough. Ha! However, I still hadn’t tried out the pair of included modules and it seemed like the right time to finally put everything together for this session. To the forest!
Game Overview
Game Name: Skoventyr
Publication Year: 2023
Designer: Morten Monrad Pedersen
Artist: Vincent Dutrait
Publisher: inPatience
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Among a ring of trees, Vogter must stay ahead of Gamle Erik as he defeats minions. There is an interesting puzzle in managing the available allies and the forest slowly dwindles as the danger grows. With extra modules to add to the puzzle, there is a lot to enjoy as the strategies come to light!
First Play
November 24, 2023
Complexity
2
Latest Play
April 6, 2026
Expansions
0
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
16
Play Time
30 Minutes
High Score
N/A
Game Area
32" x 22"
Low Score
N/A
A Time of Rescue
Over the years, I’ve slowly increased the difficulty level during setup to start with more damaged trees. This adds to the challenging in a meaningful way… Yet there’s more!
A rescue module creates a situation where all of the allies have been captured. In order to use their abilities and place them in the forest, they must be rescued by Vogter.
Doing so damages a tree, yet the card is added to the top of the deck. Another neat element to balance during play!
This also introduces the seeds of the forest, which are placed on minions and are unlocked to help heal the trees.
Lygtemand Tricks
Although using a single module is possible, the other one can be played at the same time… Make it so! Ha ha! The Lygtemand acts as another ally with a special ability.
The minions are usually splayed so you can see their values, as these are meant to be seen. I simply arranged mine like this to save table space, knowing the rows were 2, 3, and 4.
In this way, there is an order to defeating the minions since only one is uncovered at once. And the seeds of the forest!
Not too many mechanics were added, yet the strategic implications were vast in a most satisfying sense.
Through the Forest
I wouldn’t say I solved the game at the normal difficulty level, but I was hoping to do more than adjust the game end timer. These modules did exactly that, and even more!
The ways I had to think through my choices were deeper without feeling overwhelming. I considered which minion to take on next, and whether a rescue action was in order.
How well did Vogter fare? Horrible. Ha ha! This was just the right sort of challenge I was hoping for, and it wasn’t easy.
Still, I came very close a couple of times, and victory was definitely possible. These modules were fantastic additions!
Caught by Gamle Erik
Watch out, Vogter! Try as I might, this wasn’t a time to celebrate a win. I felt like I improved, though, and found a way to use all of the available actions in fairly clever ways.
The Lygtemand in particular added some excellent choices. Come to think of it, so did the seeds of the forest and the required ally rescue. Ha! Everything worked out so nicely.
I might have been tempted to play more often had I started with the modules, yet this was the right time for me.
This one is a much deeper puzzle than I initially figured, and it’s a solo game I continue to enjoy more and more!
Losing When a Game Gets Better and Better
It might sound like an odd situation when I say I lose more now, yet consider the game to be even better! Indeed, I don’t treat this as something that I want to get an easy victory out of. Some solo games are excellent for that space, yet this is one that I like to be challenged by. With the new modules, the puzzle is more involved in all the right ways to keep it fun!
Losing all the time isn’t something I have a problem with, so long as there’s some path to win. I saw how it could all work out a few times, and I was so close! The thing that can turn me away from a game is when I lose all the time, yet never feel like the game sets me up to figure it out. This is a Goldilocks situation… Not too easy, and not too difficult. Ha ha!
Part of me feels like I’m only now seeing the potential of this lovely game, and it’s been around for a few years. So glad I finally tried out the modules! I don’t think I would have been ready for them right from the start. Guess I stumbled across them at the perfect time for myself. Now to just try to keep getting better so Vogter can claim a proper victory someday!
Session Overview
Play Number: 11-16
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Lygtemand & Rescue Modules
Outcome: 6 Losses
Oh, Vogter! I was a couple of turns away from victory here and there. The best part was how I felt like I learned a little more about the strategies each time I lost. Variety may look low on the surface, but the order of the deck and the random setup for some elements changes the puzzle just enough. Winning is going to take some more practice. Luckily, I continue to have a great time puzzling through the game!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
9
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
9
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
9
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
6
+ Pros (Positives)
- Although gameplay looks deceptively simple from a rules standpoint, there is an awesome challenge to try to solve.
- The game includes a pair of modules that are optional to use with interesting elements that increase the difficulty.
- All of the artwork is fantastic with a fairytale sort of feel with memorable characters, allies, and minions.
- Using all of the available actions in the best way takes practice, and achieving victory requires skill and a little luck.
- There aren’t a lot of components, and they add enough variety to make each play unfold in a different sort of puzzle.
- A pronunciation guide is included, which is very helpful for non-Danish speakers to understand the names.
– Cons (Negatives)
- It can be easy to lose track of what’s left in the deck, which can make winning in later rounds difficult or impossible.
- Arranging the trees in a circle during setup takes a little time to perfectly align, which is minor but can be noticeable.
- Skill and strategy are at the core of winning, yet a tiny bit of good luck feels like it’s required to achieve a victory.
- Some of the ally abilities can be easy to overlook when considering the best options, although practice helps a lot.
Victory Conditions
Defeat All of the Minions
- Overall Goal Progress 75%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game at the very easy difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the easy difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the normal difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game with the Lygtemand and rescue modules.
Continue the Conversation
What is your favorite part of Skoventyr? Do you prefer to play with either or both of the modules? It was wonderful to see the full puzzle come together with the addition of the Lygtemand and rescue actions! Vogter had a lot more to do during these plays, and I’m excited to improve a tiny bit to earn a victory one of these days. Fantastic little solo game right here!
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