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Carbon City Zero (2020) Board Game

Carbon City Zero is a deck-building game designed by Matt Bonner and Tony Pickering, with artwork by 10:10 Climate Action. It was released in 2020 and is suitable for 2 to 4 players, with a recommended player count of 2 to

  • The game is set in a futuristic world where players must work together to build a sustainable city while minimizing their carbon footprint.
  • Game Components of Carbon City Zero

  • Cards: 100 full-color cards, including starter cards, government cards, industry cards, domestic cards, global cards, and snag cards.
  • Carbon Tracker: A tracker to monitor the carbon levels.
  • Time Tracker: A tracker to count down the game time.
  • Rulebook: A 13-page rulebook and a glossary of climate-related topics.
  • Counters: 2-4 counters (e.g., buttons, stones) needed for tracking.
  • Marketplace: A shared marketplace with five open-faced cards.

    How To Setup Carbon City Zero

    To set up the game, each player starts with an identical draw deck consisting of five budget cards, two stock exchange cards, one poor housing card, and one poor transport card. The remaining starter cards are returned to the game box. For collaborative games, the global competitive cards are removed, and the global collaborative cards are combined with the rest of the cards to create the market deck. The top five cards from the market deck are drawn and displayed face up to form the marketplace. Players discard any red snag cards drawn during setup and replace them until the marketplace is snag-free. Each player then draws five cards from their personal draw deck to start their hand.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Deck Building: Players buy additional cards from a shared marketplace to build their deck.
  • Carbon Reduction: The objective is to reduce the city’s carbon levels to zero.
  • Income Generation: Players must balance generating income with reducing carbon levels.
  • Global Events: Global cards can change the game rules and present challenges or opportunities.
  • Link Abilities: Some cards have link abilities that can be used in conjunction with other cards of the same sector.
  • Snag Cards: These cards represent challenges that must be adhered to when drawn.

    Player Experience

    In **Carbon City Zero**, players take on the role of city mayors tasked with creating a carbon-neutral city. The game requires strategic thinking, as players must make tough decisions between short-term income and long-term sustainability. The deck-building mechanism allows players to follow various paths to victory, but the ultimate goal is to be the first to bring the city’s carbon levels to zero. The game is easy to learn but challenging to master, making it a great teaching tool for understanding climate action.

    Pros

  • Educational: Teaches about climate action and sustainability.
  • Strategic Depth: Requires thoughtful decisions and strategic planning.
  • Collaborative Option: Can be played collaboratively, which adds a unique twist to the game.
  • Eco-Conscious: Printed on FSC-certified paper, and profits go towards distributing the game to schools and community organizations.

    Cons

  • Complexity for Younger Players: While aged 8+, the game might be too complex for younger players due to the strategic depth.
  • Time Pressure: The game includes a time tracker, which can add pressure and limit the time for decision-making.
  • Limited Innovation: Does not reinvent the deck-building mechanism but relies heavily on it.

    Personal Thoughts on Carbon City Zero

    **Carbon City Zero** is ideal for those who enjoy deck-building games and are passionate about environmental issues. It’s a great tool for teaching children and adults alike about the importance of sustainability and the challenges involved in reducing carbon emissions. The game’s collaborative mode makes it an excellent choice for family game nights or educational settings, promoting teamwork and strategic thinking. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking highly innovative gameplay mechanics, as it sticks closely to traditional deck-building rules.

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