La Strada (1995) Board Game – Board Game Guys

La Strada is a card game that was released in 1995 by H. Fries Spiele. It is a city-building game that can be played with 2 to 6 players and has a runtime of around 20 minutes. The game is designed for players aged 8 and above and falls into the category of card games with a focus on hand management.

Game Components of La Strada

Board: Comprised of interlocking tiles forming a circular layout.

Road Tiles: Each player has a set of road tiles with their color, featuring straight and curved roads.

City Tiles: Include hamlets, villages, towns, and cities, each with different point values.

Workshops: Each player starts with one workshop of their color.

Cubes: Players use cubes to mark their connections to cities.

Resource Markers: Track players’ resources, ranging from 0 to 10.

Grass, Forest, and Hill Tiles: Represent different terrains, each with varying resource costs for building roads.

How To Setup La Strada

To set up La Strada, start by assembling the board frame and placing the dog bone-shaped connectors. Shuffle and lay out the six board tiles in a circle, ensuring one tile with an extra hex is placed on one side. Mix the city tiles, placing one face up on each space marked with a gray dot. Players receive their cubes, resource markers, and workshop. Determine the start player, who places their workshop first, followed by other players in clockwise order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players gain six resources per turn, up to a maximum of ten.

Road Building: Build roads using resources, with costs varying by terrain (grass: 2 resources, forest: 3 resources, hill: 4 resources).

City Connection: Build roads to connect workshops to cities to place cubes and score points.

Blocking Mechanics: Players can block each other by building roads strategically.

Game End: The game ends when one player cannot connect to a new city on their turn.

Scoring: Points are awarded based on the size of the city and the number of players connected to it.

Player Experience

La Strada is a quick and strategic game, typically lasting 20-30 minutes. It is best suited for 3-4 players, as the two-player variant is not highly recommended. The game requires careful planning and resource management to build efficient road networks and connect to valuable cities while trying to block opponents.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Requires thoughtful planning and resource management.

Short Playtime: Games are quick and engaging.

Interactive: Players can block each other, adding a competitive layer.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules, but with depth for strategy.

Cons

Limited PlayerCount Flexibility: Not ideal for two players.

Random Setup: Can lead to uneven starting positions.

Component Quality: Some players find the components, such as the road tiles, fiddly.

Personal Thoughts on La Strada

La Strada is a hidden gem for fans of strategic board games. It’s perfect for those who enjoy games with a mix of resource management and competitive blocking mechanics. While it may not be as popular today, it offers a charming and challenging experience, especially for players who appreciate shorter game sessions. It’s an excellent addition to any board game collection, particularly for those who enjoy games like Carcassonne or other tile-laying and road-building games.

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.