Between Two Cities Essential Edition (2022) Board Game

Between Two Cities Essential Edition is a city-building board game that was released in in 2022. It is an updated version of the original Between Two Cities game, featuring new components and gameplay elements. The game is designed for 1-7 players, with a recommended player count of 5-6 for the best experience. Players work together to build two cities simultaneously, with the goal of creating the most impressive cities possible.

Game Components of Between Two Cities Essential Edition

2 rulebooks (multiplayer and solo)

129 building tiles

24 duplex tiles

7 city tokens

7 landscape mats

1 scorepad

7 district cards (44x67mm) and 3 tiles

20+ Automa solo components

How To Setup Between Two Cities Essential Edition

Setting up the game is straightforward. Start by placing a starting city board between all players. Each player receives nine tiles and chooses one of the monuments. For the second and third rounds, prepare three double tiles and an additional nine tiles per player. This setup is quick, taking only about 2 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Drafting: Players select two tiles from their hand each turn, revealing them to place one tile into each of their two cities.

City Building: Players work with the player on their left to build one city center and with the player on their right to build a second city center.

Scoring: Each city is scored for its architectural grandiosity. The final score is the lower of the scores of the two cities, and the player with the highest final score wins.

Rounds: The game consists of three rounds, with single tiles in the first and third rounds, and duplex tiles (two-space tiles) in the second round.

Solo Play: The game includes an Automa system for solo play, where the player competes against simulated opponents.

Player Experience

Between Two Cities Essential Edition offers high player interaction and a unique cooperative-competitive dynamic. Players must balance their efforts between two cities, discussing and strategizing with their neighbors to optimize their scores. The gameplay is sleek and refined, with intuitive choices that allow for some persuasive bartering. The inclusion of the Capitals expansion and various district cards enhances replayability and strategy.

Pros

Higher Player Count: Supports 1-7 players seamlessly.

Combined Base Game and Expansion: Includes components from the original game and the Capitals expansion.

Unique Gameplay: Combines cooperative and competitive elements.

Streamlined Gameplay: Minimal downtime and quick setup.

High Player Interaction: Encourages discussion and strategy among players.

Cons

Scorepad Issues: Some players find the scorepad less convenient than a traditional board.

Component Storage: The box insert and space can be inconvenient.

Luck of the Draw: Tile distribution can be random, affecting strategy towards the end of the game.

Personal Thoughts on Between Two Cities Essential Edition

This game is ideal for those who enjoy light strategy and cooperative gameplay with a competitive twist. It is a great gateway game due to its easy-to-learn mechanics and quick gameplay. The Essential Edition is particularly appealing for new players as it combines the original game and the Capitals expansion into one package, making it a comprehensive and engaging experience. If you previously enjoyed games like Between Two Castles but struggled with tile size and iconography, you’ll find that Between Two Cities Essential Edition has slightly different art on the tiles, though the tile size remains the same.

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