Advance to Boardwalk (1985) Board Game

Advance to Boardwalk is a classic board game that was released in in 1985. It was designed by Charles Phillips and has been published by various companies such as Parker Brothers and Winning Moves Games (USA). The game falls under the economic category and involves elements of area majority/influence, dice rolling, hand management, and take that mechanics.

Game Components of Advance to Boardwalk

Gameboard featuring the boardwalk with empty lots arranged in color groups

Property value cards

Fortune cards

Hotel units (different colors for each player)

Three dice: two standard numeric six-sided dice and a special color die

Tokens for player movement

How To Setup Advance to Boardwalk

To set up the game, place the gameboard in the middle of the table. Position the property cards next to their corresponding spaces on the board. Shuffle the fortune cards and deal two to each player; players should keep these cards face down. Each player chooses a color, places their token on the start space, and takes a specified number of hotel units (14 for 4 players, 16 for 3 players, 20 for 2 players). The player who rolls the highest number on the two numeric dice gets to start the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Rolling Dice: Players roll three dice: two numeric dice to determine spending limit and a color die to determine the color group where they can build. A “W” on the color die allows building in any color group, while an “F” forces the player to draw a fortune card instead of building.

Building: Players can build hotel floors on properties within the specified color group up to their spending limit.

Taking Over: Opponents can take over hotels by building more floors than other players on a lot.

Fortune Cards: These cards provide construction bonuses, natural disasters, and other events that can add or remove floors.

Game Objective: The first player to reach $35 million in hotel property value wins the game. Alternatively, the game ends when a player has no units left, and the player with the most property value wins.

Player Experience

Advance to Boardwalk combines elements of area control and luck, making it a unique spin on the traditional Monopoly game. Players must strategically decide which properties to build on and how to use their fortune cards. However, the game heavily relies on dice rolls, which can significantly impact a player’s chances of winning.

Pros

Simplified Area Control: Unlike Monopoly, players do not control properties immediately; they must build the most units.

Strategic Depth: Deciding which properties to build on and how to use fortune cards adds a layer of strategy.

Fast-Paced: The game can be finished relatively quickly compared to traditional Monopoly.

Cons

High Luck Factor: Dice rolls significantly influence the game’s outcome, which can be frustrating for some players.

Limited Player Agency: Rolling an “F” on the color die can force a player to miss a turn, adding to the luck factor.

Dependence on Rolls: Players who roll higher numbers have more flexibility and advantages.

Personal Thoughts on Advance to Boardwalk

Advance to Boardwalk is an interesting game that, despite its reliance on luck, offers a fresh take on the Monopoly theme. It is better suited for players who enjoy light area control games and are willing to tolerate a degree of randomness. For those looking to reduce the luck factor, creating house rules could enhance the gameplay experience. If you’re a fan of Monopoly spin-offs or are interested in a game that combines strategy with a bit of luck, Advance to Boardwalk might be worth checking out.

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