Helsinki (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Helsinki is a board game released in 2022, designed by Markus Erdt. It is a grid coverage open drafting game that involves players strategically placing polyominoes on their board to cover the most area. The game is set in the beautiful city of Helsinki, Finland, and is suitable for 2-4 players aged 10 and above.

Game Components of Helsinki

Game board featuring Senate Square in Helsinki

Polyomino tiles for building and market management

Market stalls and other thematic tokens

Player boards and scoring tokens

Rulebook

How To Setup Helsinki

To set up Helsinki, players start by placing the game board, which depicts Senate Square. Each player receives a player board and a set of polyomino tiles. The market stalls and other tokens are placed according to the rules outlined in the rulebook. The setup is relatively straightforward, ensuring players can quickly dive into the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place polyomino tiles on their player boards to create coherent structures.

Market Management: Manage market stalls to optimize scoring.

Resource Management: Balance resources to build and expand.

Objective: The goal is to score the most points by efficiently using polyominoes, managing market stalls, and completing objectives on the player board.

Player Experience

Helsinki offers a engaging and strategic experience without being overly complex, making it accessible to a wide range of players. The game encourages players to think creatively about how to use their polyomino tiles to maximize their score, while also managing the market aspect to gain additional points.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players of various ages and skill levels.

Strategic Depth: Offers a good balance between simplicity and complexity.

Thematic: The game is set in a real-world location, adding a touch of realism.

Replayability: High replay value due to the random nature of tile draws.

Cons

Learning Curve: While accessible, it may take a few games to fully understand the optimal strategies.

Luck Element: The random draw of tiles can sometimes hinder player plans.

Personal Thoughts on Helsinki

Helsinki is ideal for those who enjoy light to medium-weight strategy games and are looking for a game that is easy to learn but challenging to master. It is particularly suited for families or casual gaming groups who want a game that combines fun with a bit of strategic thinking. For fans of games like Azul or other tile-placement games, Helsinki offers a fresh take with its unique market management mechanics.

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