Barcelona (2023) Board Game
The Barcelona Board Game is a city-building game that allows players to recreate the iconic city of Barcelona in a competitive setting. Designed by Dani Garcia and published by Board&Dice, this game is set to be released in 2023.
Game Components of Barcelona
How To Setup Barcelona
To set up the game, you need a fairly large table to accommodate the main board, side board, and each player’s board. The main board features a street grid of part of the Eixample with 16 blocks, action tiles at the ends of rows, columns, and diagonals, and citizen tracks. Each player receives a player board with a Sagrada track, areas for Modernisme tiles, and sections for tram passengers. The side board is used for Modernisme tiles, Public Service tiles, and cobblestones. Players also need to randomize the action tiles and prepare the building tiles, currency chits, and other components. The setup is detailed but necessary for the complex gameplay ahead.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– Place 2 citizen tokens on an intersection of the main board.
– Trigger the actions at the ends of the row and column where the citizens are placed.
– Construct a building if possible using the citizen tokens.
– Check if a Cerda scoring phase is triggered.
– Take 2 new citizen tokens from the bag.
– Gain resources (coins, cloth)
– Build streets
– Move and use the tram to transport people and trigger bonus actions
– Place cobblestone tiles for rewards
– Score the most points by building, using actions efficiently, and managing the citizen tracks. Points are scored during three Cerda scoring phases and the final scoring phase.
Player Experience
Playing Barcelona is a complex yet rewarding experience. The game involves deep strategic planning, combining actions to achieve multiple goals in a single turn. The placement of citizen tokens and the subsequent actions can lead to a satisfying chain of events, often described as setting up mental dominoes. However, the game’s complexity and the need to remember various scoring mechanisms can be overwhelming, especially in solo play. The game’s design encourages replayability with variable action tiles and multiple paths to victory.
Pros
Cons
Personal Thoughts on Barcelona
Barcelona is ideal for fans of midweight Euro games who enjoy strategic planning and combining actions. It is perfect for those who appreciate a game with deep mechanics and high replayability. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer simpler rules or are averse to complex setups and multiple scoring mechanisms. The game’s tactical nature and the need for forward thinking make it a great choice for experienced board game enthusiasts.
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