| Designer(s) | Adam Kałuża |
|---|---|
| Illustrator(s) | Jarek Nocoń |
| Publisher(s) | rebel.pl |
| Publication date | 2011 |
| Players | 1–5 |
| Setup time | approx. 5 minutes |
| Playing time | 30–60 minutes |
| Random chance | Low |
| Skill(s) required | Hand management |
| Website | Rebel.pl page |
K2 is a board game by Adam Kałuża in which players are challenged to climb the mountain of the same name. [1] In 2012 K2 became the first Polish game to be nominated for a Spiel des Jahres award. [2] [3] It was also nominated for an International Gamers Award. [4]
A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Some games are based on pure strategy, but many contain an element of chance; and some are purely chance, with no element of skill.
K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen or Chhogori, at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft) above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). It is located on the China–Pakistan border between Baltistan in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan, and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. K2 is the highest point of the Karakoram range and the highest point in both Pakistan and Xinjiang.
The Spiel des Jahres is an award for board and card games, created in 1978 with the stated purpose of rewarding excellence in game design, and promoting top-quality games in the German market. It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award is one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany. A Spiel des Jahres nomination can increase the typical sales of a game from 500–3000 copies to around 10,000; and the winner can usually expect to sell 300,000 to 500,000 copies.
The game features a double-sided board with one side representing an easy ascent and the other a more difficult climbing route. There are also two types of weather conditions that you can use for the climb. This means that there are four combinations of weather and board to set the game's difficulty level. [5] [6]
Each player has two climbers and gains points for the highest position that each one reaches as long as they survive. Players must maintain a minimum level of acclimatisation for each climber to ensure that they do not die on the mountain. This, along with movement up or down the mountain, is controlled by the playing of cards from each player's personal deck. [5]
K2 can be played solo or with up to five players. When there are a number of climbers there is some level of interaction between players due to the limited space on the board. Each position has a stated number of climbers that can stop there meaning that it is possible to block the path upwards or downwards of opposing players. [6]
The game has been praised for the emotional response it gains from players, [3] including "moments of extreme tension". [5] Reviews note that the theme of mountaineering is unique and interesting, [7] while the game mechanics simulate climbing, with realistic scenarios. [3] [7] The variable difficulty level has received positive comments [6] but the replayability of the game has been questioned. [5]
Rebel.pl have released K2: Broad Peak as an expansion for K2. This gives players two challenges based on historical climbs of Broad Peak (formerly known as K3) by Polish mountaineers. [8] They also produced a small expansion called The Avalanche. [2] Kałuża's follow-up game, The Cave , debuted in 2013.
Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain in the world at 8,047 metres (26,401 ft) above sea level. The literal translation of "Broad Peak" to Falchan Kangri is not used among the Balti people. The English name was introduced in 1892 by the British explorer Martin Conway, in reference to the similarly named Breithorn in the Alps.
