Cascadia: Landmarks

Landmarks pushes Cascadia’s core puzzle into deeper territory, layering in new terrain types and modular scoring cards that force even seasoned players to rethink their approach. The expansion’s real tactical weight comes from the landmark tokens, which demand tough choices—sometimes it’s worth breaking your animal placement rhythm to chase a high-value bonus. After years of managing tables, I see this as a classic that’s earned its shelf space by staying fresh; the new synergies and scoring wrinkles keep it from gathering dust, even among a crowded field of tile-layers. Physically, Landmarks is a consolidation project. The expansion’s extra tokens and cards mean the original insert is obsolete—combine everything in a single box with a third-party organizer or baggies, or you’ll be chasing loose bits. Setup and teardown are straightforward, but expect a solid 15 minutes to get everything sorted and ready. With a 45-minute runtime, it’s a reliable anchor for a mid-length game night—substantial enough to be the main event, but not so sprawling that it derails your schedule. Teaching Landmarks is a procedural affair: plan on a 20-minute rules rundown, especially for new players unfamiliar with the landmark trade-offs. Once the first round is underway, the parallel play structure means you can step away to troubleshoot other tables—players rarely need arbitration mid-game. The room’s energy stays focused but relaxed; there’s little direct interaction, so the table hums with quiet calculation rather than table talk. For groups who want evolving challenges without adding bloat, this expansion is a clear upgrade—more depth, more replayability, and no unnecessary complexity.