City (2014) Board Game – Board Game Guys

City is a city-building board game released in 2014 by Castle Games, Inc. It is designed for 2 to 5 players with a runtime of about 60 minutes. The game falls under the categories of City Building, Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, and Territory Building, and features mechanisms such as Commodity Speculation, Modular Board, Network and Route Building, and Tile Placement.

Game Components of The City

Cards: Each card represents a building or structure in the city.

Iconography: Easy-to-follow symbols and excellent rulebook.

Card Quality: Good quality cards with clear art.

Box and Cover Art: Attractive cover art and compact box.

How To Setup The City

To set up **The City**, players start by shuffling the deck and dealing a starting hand of cards. Each round consists of four phases, but the initial setup involves no complex preparations. Players simply need to ensure they have their starting cards and are ready to play.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Engine Building: Players build their city by playing cards from their hand.

Card Play: Players simultaneously play a card face down, then flip it over and pay its costs.

Victory Points: Collect points generated by all cards in play.

Income: Collect income (draw cards) generated by all cards in play.

Game End: The game ends when one or more players reach 50 victory points.

Objective: The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

Playing **The City** is a tactical and quick experience. The game ramps up rapidly, with scoring escalating quickly as players build more cards. Each round, players must decide how to maximize their scoring opportunities while managing their hand and income. The game is lightweight compared to other engine-builders by the same designer but still requires strategic thinking.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Games last no longer than 30 minutes.

Easy to Teach: Simple rules make it easy for new players to learn.

Compact and Travel-Friendly: Perfect for vacation or on-the-go gaming.

Good at All Player Counts: Works well with 2-5 players.

Rapid Scoring Escalation: Builds tension as the game progresses.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction: Most interaction comes from scoring off other players’ cards.

No Bad Card Draw Mitigation: Survey action is available but comes at a significant cost.

Runaway Leader Issue: Can be difficult to catch up if behind, but this is intentional given the game’s short duration.

Personal Thoughts on The City

**The City** is ideal for those who enjoy quick, tactical games that don’t require a large time commitment. It’s perfect for families or casual gamers looking for a fun, engine-building experience. While it lacks extensive player interaction, it makes up for it with its fast-paced and strategically engaging gameplay. If you’re a fan of Tom Lehman’s other works, like **Race for the Galaxy** or **Roll for the Galaxy**, you might find **The City** to be a lighter but still enjoyable alternative.

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.