Cowboys, Kudzu, and Clever Choices to Make in Space Lion

Guide a unique army in battle with upgradeable units across a trio of battlefields with Space Lion: Divide and Conquer.
Maybe I don’t get around to playing all of my new solo games quickly, yet new arrivals eventually get some attention! My husband was very interested in Space Lion: Divide and Conquer. Without the time to play it ourselves, I noticed that this edition included a solo mode… I was intrigued by the concept, so it made a detour to my solo table first!
Game Overview
Game Name: Space Lion: Divide and Conquer
Publication Year: 2024
Designer: Chris Solis
Artists: Andres Blanco, Jessica Solis, & Alex Tantraz
Publisher: Solis Game Studio
Solo Mode: Included in the Deluxe Edition
During each of the 4 rounds, a trio of battles may take place. Units are either discarded for special effects or deployed for quick matchups that change significantly based on the armies in play. There is a lot to discover in a small number of cards, especially with upgraded units!
First Play
April 13, 2024
Complexity
3
Latest Play
April 13, 2024
Expansions
0
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
2
Play Time
20 Minutes
High Score
4
Game Area
30" x 20"
Low Score
4
Artistic Armies
So much cool artwork! There are all sorts of unique units to see across the 5 different armies. Despite there being a small number of cards, each has an upgraded form.
As I dug into the rules, they turned out to be pretty easy. The real heart of gameplay comes from strategic decisions, which I always appreciate. Awesome!
Each army has a theme to it, along with a special ability. It was fun to look through the cards and see these units.
Just not the Vacuus Army… Some of the animal-related units were certainly not cute and cuddly. Ha ha!
The Timing of Upgrades
I played as the Leon Army, which is one of the easier ones recommended as a starting point. Upgrades functioned a little differently for them, and it was a really cool idea.
Standard units could be upgraded into better versions with improved abilities, often offering more versatility.
But gameplay only lasts a total of 4 rounds, so choosing which units to upgrade is important… As is when to do so.
Gameplay had a pretty good flow to it, and I could see how it would shine in multiplayer! But in the end, I only saw the benefit in figuring out each army and then moving on.
Card Quality Concerns
Almost immediately, my cards started to warp a lot. The material felt a little thinner than I expected, too, so I’ll likely give in to my husband’s preference for sleeving.
I tried my best to ignore the different card backs on the solo opponent’s deck, too. It might not be too obvious here, yet this deck of 7 had definite differences.
The typos weren’t overly distracting, but were enough to take me out of the experience a couple of times.
Overall, I could see some cool aspects! It merely felt like the solo mode was a practice mode, unfortunately.
Leading the Leon Army
Much fun was to be had! Despite me not meshing with the game as much as I might have, I had some great turns.
The decision space was interesting: I typically only deployed 4 units to 3 different battles, and I had partial information about the solo opponent. Agonizing choices!
I didn’t fare particularly well, although gameplay zoomed on by and I still picked up some medals by the end.
This felt close to something I would enjoy, yet it didn’t give me the joy and accomplishment I was after. Here’s to hoping I experience them when I win against my husband!
The Trouble with Deluxe and Retail Editions
Shown here is the deluxe edition, which includes wooden tokens, cardboard player boards, a mini-expansion with additional units, and… The solo mode. It looks like the retail edition doesn’t cater to this solo mode, which may become available separately at a later date. I feel a little guilty touting it when it’s not available with the retail edition.
Don’t get me wrong: This is a pretty cool game! But splitting up a release like this means the buying process can be rather confusing. I would have assumed the deluxe edition only included upgraded components, and not additional gameplay. Instead, it’s currently the only way to get the solo mode, which is rather unfortunate for newcomers.
Maybe I’m getting jaded with fancy, upgraded components, though! Some have been disappointing, and I would rather put my money into more gameplay than a slightly better table presence. All continued musings from my random thoughts as I look at my collection. Bottom line: Look for this deluxe edition if you want to play the game solo!
Session Overview
Play Number: 1 & 2
Solo Mode: Included in the Deluxe Edition
Play Details: Leon Army vs. Kudzu Army
Outcome: 4-6, 4-6 (2 Losses)
Kudzu grew everywhere! I was learning more about how to beat this solo opponent, although it wasn’t enough. Still, I wasn’t defeated by a huge margin. I liked elements of the gameplay, but feel like this one is going to be better as a multiplayer experience. The artwork is certainly awesome, though, and the system itself is clever for doing a lot with a small number of cards. Orion was just too much for me!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
5
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
9
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
7
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
4
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
7
+ Pros (Positives)
- All of the artwork is interesting with unique units for each army, along with different upgraded versions.
- Decisions are meaningful since only a handful of units will be upgraded, and deployment requires lots of thought.
- Gameplay moves along very quickly and doesn’t require a large time investment with the quick rounds.
- Units provide abilities when discarded or used in battle, which can introduce some very tricky and fun choices.
- Each army plays differently, which means it takes experience to understand how to play as and against each one.
- Many layered and nuanced strategies exist, such as intentionally losing a battle to jump ahead in the next round.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There are numerous typos and sentence fragments scattered throughout that jump out at unexpected moments.
- Card quality seems mediocre or somewhat poor for a card-centric game, with lots of warping and different colors.
- The solo mode feels more like a practice mode for playing multiplayer, featuring somewhat vague rules.
- Each army has its own unique play style to learn how to play against, but some cards feel punishing and unfair.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 0%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game as the Leon Army.
Continue the Conversation
What do you think of Space Lion: Divide and Conquer? Are there any armies or specific cards you particularly enjoy? This is another game my husband picked up for us to play, and that’s likely where it will shine! I had hoped to get more out of the solo experience, although I definitely see a fun sort of system. Just not exactly the right solo game for me.
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