Pipeline Review - A Finely Tuned & Well Refined Game That Isn't For Me

Pipeline is a beautiful game by designer Ryan Courtney, with art by Ian O'Toole, published by Capstone Games. It's an optimization engine, taking place over 3 rounds and 18 turns, a game that forces you to weigh each move across your limited 18 turns the whole game. Can you build a company that will outmaneuver all others? Or are you doomed to fail?

TimeStamps:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:12 - Pipeline Overview
0:01:35 - What I Liked
0:05:19 - What I Didn't Like
0:09:40 - What I Can See Others Not Liking
0:10:45 - Final Thoughts

[Alphanva]

Just wanted to say thank you for this review!!! I appreciate the way you tell your truth about the game but give the positives even when those things work against your appreciation for said game.

[MaVarcon]

Haha, your reservations regarding the combination of a very thinky game with a set number of rounds disqualifies several of the games I've found most enjoyable and intriguing in recent years. :D
Gaia Project, Anachrony, Trickerion, Brass, even Cloudspire! Some very heavy hitters as far as euros are concerned. :)

[classicalteacher]

I'm cooking eggs and I cracked an egg right at 4:30. Yeah. It happened exactly at that point. That's the only reason I find this worth commenting this randomocity.

[胡瑞麟-zp]

oh meeples cushions are in orange blue and white! Maybe BGC will have some different style of logo in the future? And the art of Pipeline is amazing, in a very simple way.

[pierre-luco]

You are really on fire with those upload lately! Can't help but wonder how do you find the time to play them haha!

[grassnibbler]

Good review, real buzz on the audio though. Oh, and Scythe is a game that just didn't do it for me when it really should.

[brett]

Pipeline has been on my wish to buy for such a long time now and it still is, but what this review has made me think is, I don’t have anyone currently to play this style of game that I think will enjoy it, I could get a couple to play it but I don’t think my group would be back for more, so it will stay on my wish to buy list until I get a larger gaming group

[thngo]

Well put. If we all agreed on everything, it'd be a boring old world. Justified opinions are always interesting, & often stimulate fascinating debate on the underlying assumptions.

[AhJong]

Thanks for the review, enjoyed the perspective of “good game but not for me.” Interesting points that were helpful ahead of considering picking this up 👍

[garytheosophilus]

Great review. For an economic game, I prefer a set number of turns because time, money, and resources are the basic constraints. A player-triggered endpoint, for me, doesn’t incentivize long-term planning. But that’s a preference of course. FWIW I prefer this game to Power Grid, which is the closest comparable game I’ve played. Its variable endpoint is my second biggest complaint about the mechanics.

[juanmolla]

Great Review! I had the game but I sold it after three plays basically for the reasons you said here.

[InnerGlowAI]

Alex have you played Smartphone inc? If yes do you think it's better than pipeline?

[Adam-ptcb]

I’ve played pipeline a lot and while I recognise your comments I don’t think I can agree with them all. The time limit is what makes this game, there’s no nicety in it, if you haven’t got your engine to properly cycle at least once you are going to lose. It just always feels so tight, and it’s perfectly balanced (for me) so that you are hugely limited by money at the start and just when that eases you are hugely limited by time. And then it’s over, like a damp firework your game might have one glorious explosion or fizzle out to nothing. That brutality is lovely.

I really don’t think the techs are the biggest variability across games, and that you point to them as such is probably indicative of not having played it much. Where the action tokens are placed on the centre cross, and what scoring bonuses are drawn, has a far far larger impact on the game.

Good video though, I like the honesty and proper assessment of it, even if I disagree with your conclusions. I want to play some pipeline now.

[Alan-pnnu]

I think the "mental pressure" is what brings me back to this game and the "player interaction" is what keeps me away from FCM.

A side note, I know how you feel about judging a game after a small number of plays (a position I don't agree with but can sympathise with given how many games come out every year). But do you think it is responsible to share your opinion about a game based on just a few games? I am not trying to say you shouldn't do it. I'm just curious if you think it is appropriate.

[nozari]

Haha that intro, for me it's Concordia xD

[wsiegel]

I keep seeing this on sale or for a good deal but every time I go to pull the trigger, I hesitate. Tight economic games with a dry theme ( oil production ) for me keeps me turning away. I agree with everything you said. I can see how people like it, it's just not for me. For Capstone games, I turn to Maracaibo every time.

[pattylank]

The oil theme was enough for me and my friends to stay away.

[TheFancyFilmmaker]

I think one game that is great but just isn’t for me Is mysterium

[vectorwars]

Yes mate you nailed it!!! I can finally say I whole heartedly agree with this review I approve this video....good job.... saying that a lot of these arguments apply to terraforming mars and for me fits the same issues.

[rysiuvg]

The interaction mainly comes from the battle for turn order and manipulating it so you can deny others optimal moves or other opportunities they were waiting for (pipes, tech, oil, etc). I'm in the same boat as you. I should like it. I'm good at it, I won all three games I played with acceptable scores, but in the end the game play itself just doesn't grab me. The theme is boring and I'd rather play any other economic euro in my gaming group's collection.