Mall World (2004) Board Game

Mall World is a board game released in 2004, designed by Andrea Meyer and published by BeWitched Spiele. It falls under the category of economic and territory building games, with an emphasis on auction/bidding, hand management, pattern building, and tile placement mechanics. The game is designed for 3-5 players, with a recommended player count of 3-4, and has an average runtime of 80 minutes. The game is targeted towards players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Mall World

Game board

Player tokens

Building tiles

Money tokens

Goods tokens

Action cards

Reference cards

Rulebook

How To Setup Mall World

Place the game board in the center of the play area.

Shuffle the building tiles and place them face down.

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player token and starting money tokens.

Place the goods tokens and money tokens near the board as a supply.

Determine a starting player and begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

In Mall World, players take on the role of mall developers competing to build the most profitable mall. Players use their money and resources to bid on building tiles, strategically place them on the board to create a profitable layout, and manage their hand of action cards effectively. The objective of the game is to earn the most money by the end of the game through building and managing successful stores in the mall.

Player Experience

Pros

Engaging economic and territory building mechanics

Strategic depth with auction/bidding and hand management

High replayability with random tile placement and variable player powers

Beautiful artwork and components

Cons

Can be overwhelming for new players due to the various mechanics

Player interaction can lead to competitive gameplay

Personal Thoughts on Mall World

Mall World is a solid economic board game that offers a good balance of strategy and competition. The game’s components are well-designed, and the artwork adds to the overall theme of building a mall. While the game may be a bit complex for beginners, it offers a rewarding experience for players who enjoy strategic planning and resource management.

In terms of pricing and availability, Mall World may be harder to find as it was released in 2004, but it is worth checking out for fans of economic and territory building games. For those who enjoy games like Suburbia or Keyflower, Mall World offers a unique take on the genre and is worth investing time in. However, players who prefer lighter games may find Mall World to be too complex and may want to skip it in favor of simpler alternatives.

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