Yeah, Santorini would be a good one for a 10 year old. You don’t need complex strategy to finish it, it’s got a big list of all the gods, totally on-theme.
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I remember hearing good things about Lords of Hellas, but I don’t have any experience with it myself.
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Orichalcum seconded. I have it and it is only due to my huge number of games that I haven‘t played it a lot more. Also it is a Bruno Cathala game 
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We bought Mythic Battles for our son for exactly the same reason. Pantheon is supposed to be better.
Not a game, but the Stephen Fry books on Greek mythology are excellent
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I can echo this.
Although his choice of accents for some of the people can be hilarious. Eurystheus having a broad Belfast accent was a highlight
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Bunch of dishonourable philandering ginkwits. You want to go Norse, good honest beating each other up. (This is not a serious recommendation.)
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I’ve tried to encourage Norse but he’s all about the Greek at the moment.
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Anyone know anything about Planta Nubo? I didn’t see it mentioned I don’t think on Rosenbourg week. I’m a little more coming at it from the Odendahl/Keller axis
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I gave my copy to a friend to try and haven‘t asked for it back.
I found the rulebook terrible and the gameplay convoluted but this was after a single solo attempt.
Afaik Rosenberg only consulted on this game much like Paolo Mori did for Altay.
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This might be the wrong thread…
I adore Race for the Galaxy, I really like Terraforming Mars.
I want a tableau builder that sits between the two.
I just played 51st State on BGA and it ticks a lot of boxes, but I hated the art, enough to remind me that I’m glad I sold my copy.
Where should I look next? I’ve enjoyed Res Arcana on BGA, and am a Lehman Fanboy. Not played irl
I know 51st is a (better?) reskin of Imperial Settlers, but tbh I’d take a worse game and not have images of someone getting their throat slit.
I’ve not tried Ares Expedition, although I can imagine that being worse than both Race and TM.
Open to ideas, ideally in print in the UK, or gettable second hand
Edit: I own Innovation, I think it’s brilliant, but Chrome mobile and BGA have buggered up something so it’s not playable
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Have you considered Seasons? While there’s the dice drafting and opening draft they are to build and fuel a tableau that can get really satisfying with combos and interactions. Big plus is the presentation. Big chunky dice and very colourful. I still want to play after owning it for years.
Res Arcana is great, I don’t see it as between the 2 you mentioned. Similar weight and duration to Race but a different style I’d say
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I was just reminded of Seasons. Played online a few times about 4 years ago.
Worth a look
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I was gonna suggest Seasons too @EnterTheWyvern
I would also suggest Chudyk’s tableau builders, but not sure if that’s the type that you’re asking for.
RFTG > Ares > TFM
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Personally:
RFTG > TF > … > Chewing glass > TF Ares
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7 wonders duel?
Earth?
Forest shuffle perhaps?
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Can we define “sits between the two?” In terms of complexity? Or overall arc? Is this about finding a 45-60 minute game? Or a game that’s a little less abstract than RFTG? More mechanisms and sidequests?
I’ve wrestled with this question as well but not sure which direction to run…
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Ideally I want a card based tableau builder that is between the two in length (bearing in mind that Kate and me play Terraforming Mars in about 35 minutes).
I like playing cards and then doing something with those cards in future turns. Something where you can lose but still feel clever because of what you did, but short enough that when I’m stupid and get battered it doesn’t take too long. A bit of interaction, but not where I can set something up but then it gets kiboshed by an opponent (although I adore Innovation).
Having played them both a couple of times, I think I want Res Arcana or 51st State with a theme that I like! Or BGA to fix Innovation for phones.
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If you want RA or 51st with a different theme, the correct answer is almost undoubtedly Furnace + Interbellum
Base Furnace has an amazing auction which even works ok at 2. The cards a bit predictable, with converting A to B, but that’s 51st State as well.
Interbellum brings a simple bot (like Architects or DuneImp) to enhance the 2p game, as well as more characters (meaning asymmetric corps), more complicated deck cards to spice up your engines, and business school which is like modular powers you can bolt onto any other card. This is where the tableau engines get really interesting (and explosive).
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Other things that came to mind for engine builders that are bigger than RFTG but smaller than TFM, but aren’t all cardy:
Everdell: May not be shorter but as far as lightly interactive, card tableau builders with more going on than RFTG and less than TM, here you are. Others can speak to the best configuration, I only have Base + Spirecrest and don’t play it enough to branch out further.
Orleans: If you wanted a slightly bigger game that was still about starting small and building an engine, here you go. It’s between them on a different axis. No cards, of course, but you collect cardboard buildings to flesh out your engine?
Lorenzo Il Magnifico: Happy to play this on Yucata! You’re buying cards and laying them out in an activation sequence for bigger and bigger turns all game. It’s not going to be 35 minutes but in principle I’d call it smaller than TFM.
New Frontiers: You know this one well.
Empyreal: Empyreal has three problems. It needs a new production that fits in an appropriate box, improved iconography, and new setup rules or in-game efficiencies that drive players together (it’s possible to split up the board and then the game becomes boring, like Terra Mystica would if no one was building next to each other).
That said, you have a small company at the start and during the game you hire specialists and increase your mana reserves, along with extending your train network, to have bigger and bigger turns. This struck me with the feels.
London 2e: This might be a strong rec. Your “tableau” keeps changing throughout the game, but you are rebuilding it every few turns and then “running” it for points and money before starting over. This game initially hits as a little slow and dry but boy does it grow in interest as you figure out how to use each card and how they fit together. This is a marital favorite.
Roll for the Galaxy: Again, a bit bigger and a few more mechanics than Race, but doesn’t get to TFM scale.
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Some other thoughts:
51st State and Res Arcana. RA has gotten better over time, 51st State I’m not sure on.
Fantastic Factories: This always seems like a child’s game but then plays so much more interesting than I expect it to. Still, it might be lighter than RFTG and I’m not sure you could play it nightly or anything.
Tiny Epic Galaxies: Yeah, you accumulate planets throughout the game but you don’t end up re-activating them that much.
Forest Shuffle: Fits on the surface, but in the end you’re really just drawing cards and planting scoring synergies, there isn’t really an engine or card activation here. More like Fantasy Realms writ large.
Ginkgopolis: You already know this one well. And the RFTG aspects are on the sideline rather than the main game.
Honey Buzz: Haven’t played yet! But maybe fits as well.
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Thank you
I’ve got Orleans plus the Trade and Intrigue expansion (and coin capsules for the tokens)
Kate had a patient who highly recommended Lorenzo, but I’ve also heard from a couple of people who bounced off it
I’ve heard about Honey Buzz, but not sure where.
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I suspect Earth may be a bit lightweight for you, bit if you like I’ll stick it in the baskets for Airecon.
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