Le Havre: The Inland Port (2012) Board Game

Le Havre: The Inland Port is a two-player board game released in 2012 by designer Uwe Rosenberg and published by Lookout Games. The game is set in the French city of Le Havre, known for its maritime activities and industrial port. Players take on the roles of harbor managers competing to build the most successful port.

Game Components of Le Havre: The Inland Port

Game Board: Depicts the harbour of Le Havre

Building Cards: Represent various structures that players can construct

Resource Counters: Track resources such as money, wood, and fish

Turn Track: A mechanism to move buildings along, affecting their utility

Player Tokens: For tracking player progress and resources

Rulebook: Though the digital version includes a tutorial, making the rulebook less necessary.

How To Setup Le Havre: The Inland Port

Setting up the game involves placing the game board in the middle of the playing area, shuffling and dealing the building cards, and distributing the resource counters and player tokens. Each player starts with a set amount of money and resources. The turn track is also set up, ready to manage the cycle of building usage and progression.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players manage resources like money, wood, and fish using a unique counter system.

Building Mechanism: Buildings are placed on a turn track and become more powerful as they move along but must be used to gain resources, resetting their position.

Action Selection: Players choose actions to construct buildings, gain resources, or use buildings to advance their strategy.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by constructing and utilizing buildings efficiently, managing resources, and optimizing the use of the turn track.

Player Experience

Playing **Le Havre: The Inland Port** is a deeply strategic experience that challenges players to balance short-term resource needs with long-term building strategies. The game’s unique mechanics, such as the turn track and resource counter system, create a engaging puzzle that requires careful planning and execution. The digital version, available on various platforms, includes a comprehensive tutorial that makes it easy to learn and start playing quickly.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

Unique Mechanics: The turn track and resource counter system provide a fresh and challenging approach to resource management.

Quick Playtime: Games typically last about 30 minutes.

Digital Tutorial: The digital version includes an excellent tutorial, making it easy to learn.

Cons

Limited Player Count: Designed for only two players, which may limit its appeal for larger groups.

Steep Learning Curve: While the digital tutorial helps, the game’s mechanics can be confusing at first.

Resource Management Complexity: The resource counter system, while innovative, can be complex to manage.

Personal Thoughts on Le Havre: The Inland Port

**Le Havre: The Inland Port** is tailored for those who enjoy strategic, resource-management games with a strong focus on planning and optimization. It is ideal for fans of Uwe Rosenberg’s other works, such as **Agricola** and **Ora et Labora**, and for players looking for a challenging yet rewarding two-player experience. The game’s short playtime and digital availability make it accessible and convenient to play, both solo against AI and with friends online.

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.