Utopia (2007) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Utopia is a city-building board game released in 2007, designed by Stéphane Poinsot and Jean-Mathias Xavier. The game is set in a futuristic world where players compete to build the best city and gain influence over different areas.

Game Components of Utopia

Visitor cards representing different historical figures

Tokens for each of the five cultures

Monument and wonder cards

Player tokens

Card deck for various actions

Score track and scoring tokens

How To Setup Utopia

To set up Utopia, each player starts by grabbing three visitor cards and assigning them to the corresponding islands based on their cultural background. Players then draw five cards each, with the leader discarding two cards and other players discarding one, except for the last player. The first player takes their turn, followed by the others in order of their victory points.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Control: Players compete to control as much of the kingdom as possible.

Set Collection: Gathering groups of cards and tokens is key to victory.

Player Order: Determined by victory points, with the leader going first.

Actions: Players can move tokens, spawn new tokens, build monuments, and consume tokens for victory points.

Objective: The game ends when a player reaches 50 victory points; the player with the most points wins.

Building Monuments and Wonders: Players can build monuments by having three of the same tokens in a region and wonders by having one of each token on an island.

Player Experience

Utopia is a quick and fast-paced game that combines trickery and cleverness. It has a unique twist where players build a utopian state by sacrificing historical figures, adding a sinister layer to the game. The game features strong catch-up mechanics, making it competitive until the end. However, the game’s visuals and iconography can be messy, making it harder to scan information.

Pros

Quick and fast-paced gameplay

Unique and engaging theme

Strong catch-up mechanics

Combines area control and set collection effectively

Grand feel with monuments and wonders

Cons

Visually cluttered and difficult to scan information

Large and overly produced components

Personal Thoughts on Utopia

Utopia is ideal for players who enjoy area control games with a twist. It stands out from other area control games due to its sinister theme and the dynamic of building monuments and wonders. While it has some visual drawbacks, the gameplay is engaging and competitive. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with a bit of dark humor, Utopia might be the perfect fit. However, if you prefer games with more consistent and streamlined visuals, you might want to consider alternatives like Tammany Hall.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.