The alien board game people are spending months translating
The alien board game people are spending months translating
The alien board game people are spending months translating
Rowan Zeoli
December, 17, 2024
Summary
City of Six Moons is an innovative board game where players must decipher the rules, written entirely in symbols and icons, before playing. Created by Amabel Holland, the game explores the development of an alien civilization and challenges players to engage with complex systems through interpretation. Inspired by Holland’s experience translating a German game, it emphasizes the inherent loss in translation. Players may never know if their interpretations are correct, as the creators refuse to answer rules questions. While the game's concept has been divisive, it has gained praise for pushing the boundaries of tabletop design and encouraging deep engagement with ambiguity.
Reference
Zeoli, R. (2024, December 17). The alien board game people are spending months translating. Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/497916/city-of-six-moons-amber-holland-interview-translation