New York City (2022) Board Game

New York City Board Game, released in 2022, is a city building card game designed by Klemens Franz and published by Queen Games. The game allows 1–4 players to immerse themselves in the hustle and bustle of New York City, trying to build the most successful cityscape through action drafting, auction/bidding, and solo/solitaire gameplay mechanisms.

Game Components of New York City

Player boards

Character cards

Skyscraper tokens

Prestige tokens

Vessels

Elevator board

Dollar and Press track tokens

Action cards

Reserve cards

Deluxe edition includes additional aesthetic and gameplay components.

How To Setup New York City

To set up the game, each player is dealt two cards at random which are stored beneath their player boards as a reserve. The game board is prepared with the necessary tracks and tokens. The skyscraper supply is placed within reach of all players, and the character cards are arranged on the elevator board. Players start with a set amount of money and no skyscrapers in their personal supply. The prestige tokens and vessels are placed on their respective displays.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Action Drafting: Players select sets of cards to add to their hands.

Auction/Bidding: Players bid for actions using cards, with the winner receiving bonuses.

Game Objective

Players aim to build prestigious skyscrapers to create a stunning skyline.

The goal is to accumulate the most prestige points by building skyscrapers in different districts, hiring characters, and managing resources effectively.

The player with the most points, earned from skyscrapers, characters, and prestige tokens, wins the game.

Player Experience

In **New York City**, players take on the roles of builders, competing to construct the most impressive skyline. The game involves strategic bidding and resource management, as players need to balance their finances, character hires, and skyscraper construction. The game’s mechanics ensure a fair and engaging experience, with each player having the opportunity to make impactful decisions. The beautiful skyline that emerges on the board adds a visually appealing element to the gameplay.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game offers a mix of bidding and resource management, providing multiple layers of strategy.

Fair Card Distribution: The snake draft mechanism ensures a more even distribution of cards among players.

Thematic Consistency: The game’s theme of building skyscrapers is well-integrated with the mechanics.

Visual Appeal: The game board and skyscrapers create a beautiful and immersive cityscape.

Cons

Similarity to Rialto: The game is a reimplementation of Stefan Feld’s Rialto, which might make it less appealing to those who have played the original.

Limited Innovation: Some critics argue that aside from the card draft mechanism, the game does not introduce many new elements compared to Rialto.

Personal Thoughts on New York City

**New York City** is ideal for fans of strategic card games and city-building themes. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy Stefan Feld’s design style and are looking for a game with a mix of bidding and resource management. The game’s complexity and length, approximately 45-60 minutes, make it a great fit for experienced board game enthusiasts. However, those who prefer highly innovative or simplistic games might find **New York City** less appealing.

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