Harbour (2015) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Harbour is a card game designed by Scott Almes and published by Tasty Minstrel Games in in 2015. It is a city-building and economic game set in a fantasy world with a humorous twist. Players take on the role of ambitious entrepreneurs trying to build the best harbor in the land by collecting resources, constructing buildings, and outsmarting their opponents.

Game Components of Harbour

Game Board: Represents the harbour town of Gull’s Bottom.

Resource Markers: Fish, wood, cattle, and stone, used instead of traditional tokens for a minimalist design.

Building Cards: Various properties that players can purchase.

Player Tokens: Used for tracking progress and resources.

How To Setup Harbour

To set up Harbour, each player chooses a token and places it on the starting location on the board. The building cards are shuffled and placed face up around the board, representing different locations in Gull’s Bottom. Each player starts with a set of resource markers. The objective is to collect and convert these resources into buying buildings, which will ultimately determine the winner.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Collection: Players collect resources (fish, wood, cattle, stone) by visiting various buildings.

Resource Conversion: Resources can be converted or traded to meet the requirements of buying buildings.

Building Acquisition: Players buy buildings using the collected resources.

Game Objective: The goal is to accrue the most points by owning valuable buildings, with the game ending when one player buys a set number of buildings or when all buildings are sold.

Player Experience

Harbour offers a fun and engaging experience with its easy-to-teach mechanics and quick gameplay. The game’s minimalist design, using simple markers instead of piles of tokens, enhances its accessibility and visual appeal. Players need to manage resources efficiently to optimize their chances of buying the most valuable buildings.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple mechanics make it easy to teach and play.

Quick Gameplay: Games are relatively short, lasting about 20-30 minutes.

Resource Management: Encourages strategic thinking and efficiency.

Minimalist Design: Uses simple markers, reducing clutter and enhancing visual appeal.

High Replayability: Different building combinations and resource availability ensure varied gameplay.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction: Some players might find the gameplay too solitary.

Luck Factor: The availability of building cards and resources can add an element of luck.

Personal Thoughts on Harbour

Harbour is ideal for players who enjoy light to medium-weight games with a focus on resource management. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate quick, strategic gameplay without the complexity of heavier board games. The game’s charm and simplicity make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those looking for a game that is easy to introduce to new players.

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