Razzia! (2004) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Razzia! is a card game designed by renowned game designer Reiner Knizia and was released in 2004 by AMIGO. The game is set in the world of mafia and players take on the roles of mob bosses competing to gain control over various territories.

Game Components of Razzia!

Card Deck: 120 cards, including 21 “Police Raid” cards and 99 “booty” cards divided into six types (purple bodyguards, green cars and drivers, blue thieves, gold coins, red trinkets, and brown businesses).

Checks: 16 cardboard chits with values from 1,000 to 16,000.

Game Board: A small, linen-textured cardboard strip for placing cards and checks.

How To Setup Razzia!

To set up the game, each player is given 3 or 4 checks depending on the number of players, ensuring a fair spread of values. The game strip is placed in the middle of the table, and the 120-card deck is shuffled and placed nearby. The 1,000 check is initially set on the game strip.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction Rounds: Players take turns flipping over booty cards. When a police raid card is revealed or the auction row is full, an auction round begins. Players bid using their checks, with the highest bidder winning all the cards in the auction and the check on the board.

Scoring: Each player scores points for the cards they have accumulated. The round ends when all checks are spent or when enough police raid cards are revealed, discarding any cards in the auction row. The game consists of three rounds, with the player having the highest score at the end declared the winner.

Strategic Bidding: Players must strategically choose when to bid and which checks to use, as each player can only win a limited number of auctions per round.

Player Experience

**Razzia** offers a tense and logical gameplay experience, where players constantly try to guess and second-guess their opponents’ moves. The open information and lack of surprises make it less of a gamble and more about tactical play. The game’s theme of mafiosi bidding for stolen goods adds a fun and thematic layer to the gameplay.

Pros

Portable and Easy to Set Up: The game comes in a small box and is easy to transport and set up.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a high level of tactical play without being overly complex.

Theme: The mafiosi theme is well-integrated and enjoyable.

Cons

Limited Complexity: Some players may find the game too simple compared to its predecessor, **Ra**.

Repeat Rounds: The game consists of three rounds, which might feel repetitive to some players.

Personal Thoughts on Razzia!

**Razzia** is perfect for those who enjoy strategic auction games with a clear and logical gameplay mechanic. It is an excellent choice for families and casual gamers looking for a game that is easy to learn but still offers depth. The lack of disaster cards, present in **Ra**, makes the game more streamlined and less prone to random setbacks, which some players may prefer. Overall, **Razzia** is a great option for anyone seeking a fun, strategic, and portable game experience.

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