In the Year of the Dragon

In the Year of the Dragon was designed by Stefan Feld and first published by Alea in 2007. The game is set in ancient China, challenging players to lead a palace province through a series of twelve months, each bringing a unique disaster or event that demands strategic preparation. It is part of the esteemed Alea Big Box series, a collection known for its focus on mid-to-heavy weight eurogames that emphasize efficiency and long-term planning over direct conflict.

The game is celebrated for its punishing, high-stakes mechanics, where players must frequently sacrifice their resources or population to survive recurring crises. Stefan Feld’s design philosophy here is centered on the 'drought' of resources, forcing players to make difficult choices under pressure. Upon its release, it was lauded by the gaming community for its tight balance and thematic integration, establishing itself as a hallmark of Feld’s early career and a definitive example of the German-style strategy game genre.