A Life Scores You on How Well You Actually Lived It

Most euro games hand the win to whoever was most efficient, hoarded the most money, or built the slickest engine. A Life, a new release funding now on Gamefound from German publisher Skellig Games, asks a different question. Did you actually live well? It is a points game where 1 to 4 players guide a character from birth to old age, and the one who lived most truly to their own values wins, not the richest or the cleverest.

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Across the game you choose which experiences your character collects, gathering resources like knowledge, experience, dreams and money. The neat twist is that those experiences shape your character's inner values, and it is those values that decide which resources actually score points at the end of their life. Two players can chase completely different lives and both come away feeling they played well, which is a lovely thing for a game to pull off.

Early hands-on impressions compare it to The Pursuit of Happiness, the well-liked life-planning game it clearly shares DNA with, though A Life leans harder into the quiet, reflective side of the theme. There is a full solo mode in the box too, so it is not only a multiplayer affair. If you want to kick the tyres before backing, the publisher has a playable version up on Tabletopia.

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Pledges land at roughly 60 euros (around £50) for the standard edition and 90 euros (around £77) for a deluxe version, shipping and VAT included. This is a thoughtful, gentle pick rather than a brain-burner, the sort of game that sparks a chat around the table as much as a contest. If that sounds like your group's speed, it is worth a look before the campaign wraps. Got people who would enjoy a slower, story-led evening? Find a game night near you on Backseat Gamer.

Sources: Gamefound | unknowns.de | BoardGameGeek