King of New York (2014) Board Game

King of New York is a board game designed by Richard Garfield and released in 2014 by IELLO. It is a standalone sequel to the popular game King of Tokyo. In this game, players take on the roles of giant monsters battling it out for control of New York City.

Game Components of King of New York

8 Dice

1 Game Board

66 Cards

46 Effect Tokens

6 Monster Boards

6 Monster Figures & Plastic Stands

45 Building/Unit Tiles

Approx. 50 Energy Cubes

1 Rule Book.

How To Setup King of New York

To set up the game, place the game board in the middle of the playing area, representing New York City with its five boroughs. Each player selects a monster and places it on one of the boroughs. Tiles are distributed across the boroughs, providing various benefits and challenges. Each player receives a monster board and the necessary tokens and energy cubes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Rolling Dice: Players roll up to 6 dice, with the option to reroll any number of dice up to three times. The dice faces include repair health, attack, energy, star, break buildings, and ouch (representing military attacks).

Controlling Boroughs: Players move their monsters between the five boroughs of New York, with Manhattan offering special benefits but also increased vulnerability to attacks.

Destroying Buildings: Breaking buildings earns points and provides other benefits, but also attracts military units.

Energy and Cards: Players can use energy to buy cards that provide special abilities and enhancements.

Objective: The first player to reach 20 victory points or be the last monster standing wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing **King of New York** is an engaging and dynamic experience. Each turn is filled with strategic decisions, as players balance the need to destroy buildings and other monsters with the risk of attracting military units. The game is highly interactive, with frequent battles and changes in strategy due to the rolling of the dice and the use of special cards. The educational element of learning about New York’s boroughs adds a fun twist.

Pros

Fast-Paced Gameplay: Quick turns and constant action keep the game exciting and engaging.

Deep Strategy: Despite its simplicity, the game offers a lot of depth in terms of decision-making and strategy.

High Replayability: The game’s use of cards and random dice rolls ensures that each playthrough is unique.

Educational: Players learn about the different boroughs of New York City.

Engaging Theme: The monster vs. city theme is both entertaining and immersive.

Cons

Luck Factor: The rolling of dice introduces a significant element of luck, which can sometimes overshadow strategy.

Complexity for New Players: While the core mechanics are simple, the game has many rules and nuances that new players might find overwhelming.

Setup Time: Setting up the game can take a bit longer due to the distribution of tiles and cards across the board.

Personal Thoughts on King of New York

**King of New York** is an excellent choice for families and groups of friends who enjoy fast-paced, strategy-rich games. It is suitable for players aged 10 and up and supports 2-6 players, making it versatile for different group sizes. The game’s unique blend of luck, strategy, and interaction makes it appealing to a wide range of players, from casual gaming enthusiasts to seasoned board game lovers. If you enjoyed **King of Tokyo**, you will likely find **King of New York** to be an exciting and enhanced iteration of the original concept.

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