Journeys Afar: The Ketsueki Review: The Sandiest of Sandboxes

About Journeys Afar: The Ketsueki, from BoardGameGeek:

Welcome to Journeys Afar, where infinite worlds filled with boundless possibilities are connected by a single road: the Ketsueki. Along this path, brave heroes venture forth, each journeying to distant, mysterious lands. On their travels, they explore sites of great importance, acquire powerful items, make offerings to benevolent spirits, sharpen their skills, battle fearsome ronin, and form lasting bonds. But in the end, only one will be remembered as a legend. Journeys Afar: The Ketsueki is a sandbox game of epic adventure, where the journey matters more than the destination. Each player is a unique hero from a distinct world. Your world defines everything in the game: encounters, quests, threats, upgrades, and special rules that reshape every session into a new experience. As heroes travel across The Ketsueki, they impact the worlds they visit and discover who they truly are. The game includes six fully-realized worlds: Memori, the Garden of Sleep - where dreams are born and the Ancients call home Shards of Hansha - where a society of incredible artists devote their lives to crafting starglass Horobi, Twilight Unending - where the sun never rises, and darkness spreads unchecked Kakurega, Home to Beasts - where skilled Hunters track monstrous prey The Island Nation of Shima - where the Great Houses vie for the Sky Throne Unmei-Unmei, the Dancing Parade - where the flip of a coin can change fate itself