Covenant - Strategy Forged in the Depths of Stone

A Shadow over Karrak-Sur-Kazar

Covenant is a heavyweight strategic board game released in 2025 by Devir Games, aimed at players who value deliberate planning, tight competition, and minimal reliance on randomness. At the heart of the story are dwarf clans bound by an ancient covenant. Their shared goal is to reclaim a sacred mountain city, long lost and twisted by the influence of darkness.

This is not a tale of solitary heroics. The game speaks of collective duty, while still offering each player a distinct path to glory. Victory is measured not only by strength, but by the ability to manage resources, build a functioning economy, and choose the right moment for decisive actions.

Designed for 1-4 players, with a playtime of roughly 90-120 minutes, game makes one thing clear from the opening turns: there are no easy decisions here.

Three Eras of the Covenant

At its core, Covenant is built around worker placement, but executed with far greater depth than in most eurogames. Each dwarf is more than a simple worker - they are a tool with defined strength and potential. Who you send, and where you send them, directly affects the outcome of every action.

Players take turns placing dwarves in key areas of the underground city to:

• gather resources by clearing halls and mining tunnels,

• fight enemies and drive them from occupied territories,

• construct buildings that provide permanent or situational bonuses,

• develop traditions and crafts that strengthen both economy and military power.

Every action is tightly connected to the surrounding systems. Resources unlock construction, buildings shape future turns, and area control influences the overall tempo of the game.

The game unfolds across three eras. In each era, players gradually commit their dwarves to the board until no one has figures left to place. This triggers the Council phase.

The Council is the core turning point of each cycle. During this phase:

• dwarves return to the reserve,

• effects from traditions and buildings are resolved,

• glory points are awarded for captured enemies, controlled areas, and fulfilled era objectives.

This structure creates a clear and unforgiving rhythm. Time is always limited, and every action must either support the current strategy or lay the groundwork for the next era.

Pickaxes, Carts, and Clan Resolve

Covenant revolves around long-term decision-making. Reacting to the board is never enough - players must anticipate which areas will matter several turns ahead, and which opponents are likely to claim them first.

Key strategic factors include:

• Timing. Securing a powerful action early can provide momentum, but may leave you without flexibility later.

• Territory control. Certain halls and mountain zones inevitably become flashpoints. Yielding them can mean falling behind permanently.

• Economic vs military balance. Focusing on combat too early may drain your resources, but ignoring conflict is equally dangerous.

• Upgrades. Traditions, tools, and buildings offer strong effects, but demand investment and time - both always in short supply.

Randomness exists, but it never takes control. It shifts emphasis rather than breaking strategy. Victory belongs to the player who best reads the pace of the game and adapts to opponents.

Despite its euro foundation, Covenant is a highly confrontational game. Interaction goes beyond combat and manifests in constant competition for limited actions and positions.

Every placed dwarf blocks an opportunity for others. Every constructed building is an advantage denied to a rival. The conflict is systemic rather than chaotic, and it is this pressure that sustains tension from the opening round to the final scoring.

The game truly shines at full player count, where competition for key zones becomes ruthless and the cost of mistakes increases dramatically.

A Legacy Carved in Stone

Who has what it takes to lead a dwarf clan through such a demanding struggle:

• enjoy eurogames with a high density of meaningful decisions;

• prefer minimal randomness and clear cause-and-effect systems;

• are willing to sacrifice short-term gains for long-term outcomes;

• are comfortable with games where every decision carries consequences;

• value experiences that grow deeper over time rather than simpler.

Covenant is a serious, dense, and demanding strategy game. It does not aim to be friendly or fast, but it rewards thoughtful play and a deep understanding of its mechanics.

There are no unnecessary elements here. Every system contributes to a shared feeling of pressure, obligation, and competition for scarce resources. Each session feels like a true contest of minds, where victory is achieved not through a single clever move, but through a carefully executed sequence of decisions.

If you appreciate well-crafted eurogames with high strategic density and tangible competition, Covenant is worth your attention. This is a game that does not reveal itself in one evening, but earns a lasting place on the table.