Forbidden City (2018) Board Game

Forbidden City is a board game designed by Paul Windle and released in in 2018. The game is set in ancient China and players take on the role of architects competing to build the most prestigious section of the Forbidden City.

Game Components of Forbidden City

Tiles in three main varieties: blank tiles, dragon tiles, and advisor tiles

Each tile type serves a specific purpose: blank tiles expand or close off rooms, dragon tiles score bonus points, and advisor tiles determine room ownership

A central board where tiles are placed

Room tiles colored in three different hues to distinguish between separate areas

How To Setup Forbidden City

To set up the game, each player receives a personal stack of tiles. The central board is initially empty, awaiting the placement of tiles. Players draw tiles randomly from their stacks and place them on the board, ensuring that the tiles are aligned in a way that preserves the separate room colors.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Drawing: Players draw one tile from their personal stack each turn.

Tile Placement: Tiles must be placed to expand or complete rooms, maintaining the color separation.

Room Completion: When a room is completed, the player with the most advisors in that room scores full points, while the second place gets half the points.

Connected Rooms: Score points for connected rooms through doorways.

Game End: The game ends when each player has two tiles left; final scoring includes bonus points for dragons or advisors on the last two tiles.

Player Experience

Forbidden City is a simple and fast-paced game, similar to other tile-laying games like Carcassonne. However, it lacks a significant decision-making element, as the best placement of a tile is often obvious. The game’s simplicity makes it easy to learn but also somewhat boring, as there is little complexity or strategic depth. The ability to score points from connected rooms adds a layer of strategy, but it is not enough to elevate the game beyond its basic mechanics.

Pros

Easy to learn and play

Fast gameplay, typically lasting around 30 minutes

Simple introduction to tile-laying games

Strategic element in connecting rooms for additional points

Cons

Lack of decision-making depth

Limited artwork and theme appeal

Components do not always align neatly

Feels bare-bones compared to other tile-laying games

Personal Thoughts on Forbidden City

Forbidden City is suitable for those looking for a very simple introduction to tile-laying games. It is not recommended for players seeking complex strategies or deep gameplay. The game’s simplicity and lack of wow factor make it less appealing for experienced gamers but could be a good starting point for new players. However, if you are accustomed to the depth of games like Carcassonne, you might find Forbidden City too basic and unengaging.

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