Neoville (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Neoville is a city-building board game set in a futuristic world where players compete to construct the most efficient and environmentally friendly city. Designed by Phil Walker-Harding and published by Blue Orange Games in 2021, Neoville combines elements of pattern building, square grid, and tile placement mechanics.

Game Components of Neoville

Tiles: Used for building the city, each with different terrains (grass, water, dirt, stone).

Skyscrapers: Earn points based on the size of the district they are placed in.

Utilities: Score points based on their placement within districts or proximity to specific terrains.

Player Boards: For each player to build their 4×4 city.

Draw Piles: Face-down and face-up tiles for players to draw from.

How To Setup Neoville

To set up Neoville, players first sort the Skyscrapers by type and remove some based on the number of players. Then, they choose two types of Utility buildings to play with. The starting tiles are separated from the regular tiles, and the regular tiles are shuffled into two face-down draw piles. Four tiles are placed face-up next to the draw piles. Each player takes their starting tile and is dealt two tiles from the draw pile, resulting in a hand of three tiles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players add a tile from their hand to their city, ensuring it aligns orthogonally with existing tiles.

Skyscraper/Utility Placement: Optionally, players can add a Skyscraper or Utility to the newly placed tile.

District Creation: Players create districts by connecting terrain squares across multiple tiles.

Scoring: Skyscrapers score points based on district size; Utilities score based on their placement. Unfulfilled Skyscrapers and Utilities deduct points.

Game Objective: The player with the highest score, having successfully built and scored their city, wins.

Player Experience

Playing Neoville feels like solving a challenging puzzle, where each move has to be carefully planned. The game involves a delicate balance between taking risks by placing high-scoring Skyscrapers and Utilities early and ensuring you have the tiles to fulfill their requirements. The push-and-pull tension is palpable as players constantly adjust their strategy to maximize points while avoiding penalties.

Pros

Simple yet Engaging Rules: Easy to learn, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

Strategic Depth: Offers a good balance of risk-taking and planning.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for families with kids aged 8 and up.

Visual Appeal: The ‘solarpunk’ aesthetic and art by Ingenious Studios enhance the game’s immersive experience.

Quick Playtime: Games typically last 30-45 minutes.

Cons

Penalty for Overambition: Unfulfilled Skyscrapers and Utilities can significantly reduce scores, which might be discouraging for some players.

Limited Player Interaction: Players focus more on their individual cities rather than direct interaction with others.

Personal Thoughts on Neoville

Neoville is an excellent choice for fans of city-building and tile-placement games. It is particularly suited for families and casual gamers who enjoy light to medium-weight games. The game’s simplicity in setup and rules, combined with its strategic depth, makes it an appealing option for those looking to spend a fun and challenging 30-45 minutes building their ideal city. However, for those seeking more complex city-builders or games with heavier themes, alternatives like Suburbia or Magnate might be more appealing.

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