San Francisco (2022) Board Game

San Francisco is a city-building board game released in 2022, designed by Roman Kucharski and featuring artwork by Rebel Studio. The game is set in the iconic city of San Francisco, known for its historic landmarks, diverse culture, and bustling transportation system. Players will engage in building connections, managing markets, and placing tiles to create their own version of the city by the bay.

Game Components of San Francisco

Game board featuring a map of San Francisco

District plans

Skyscraper tokens

Cable car tracks

Player boards

Cards for district development

Master builder medal

How To Setup San Francisco

To set up the game, each player selects a player board and places it in front of them. The main game board, depicting San Francisco, is placed in the center of the table. Players receive a set of cards and tokens, and the district plans and skyscraper tokens are placed within reach of all players. The cable car tracks are also laid out on the board. Each player starts with a set of basic cards and a clear board, ready to begin their urban planning journey.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Urban Planning: Players create district plans, build skyscrapers, and lay out cable car tracks.

Card Drafting: Players draft cards to fill their district rows, each card taking on a specific color once played.

Competition: Players compete to fill each district first, build the most valuable skyscrapers, and create the largest cable car network.

Majority Scoring: Points are awarded based on the majority value in each district and the extent of the cable car network.

Strategic Decisions: Players must monitor opponents’ boards to make strategic decisions that can hinder their opponents’ progress.

Player Experience

Playing **San Francisco** is a dynamic and competitive experience. The game starts with straightforward decisions but quickly evolves into a race to complete districts and build skyscrapers. Players must constantly monitor their opponents’ boards to prevent them from gaining an advantage. The game’s mechanic of valuing options for opponents’ boards more frequently than one’s own adds a unique layer of strategy and passive-aggressive competition.

Pros

High Replayability: The game offers different challenges and outcomes with each playthrough.

Strategic Depth: Players must balance short-term and long-term goals while keeping an eye on their opponents.

Competitive: The game encourages active competition among players, making it engaging and challenging.

Thematic: The game’s theme of urban planning and city development is well-integrated into the gameplay mechanics.

Cons

Complex Scoring: The scoring system can be complex and requires careful attention to detail.

Limited Simple Actions: As the game progresses, simple actions become less available, leading to more complex decision-making.

High Dependence on Opponents’ Moves: The game’s outcomes are heavily influenced by the actions of other players, which can sometimes feel unpredictable.

Personal Thoughts on San Francisco

**San Francisco** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic city-building games and competitive gameplay. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games that require careful planning and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The game’s thematic depth and the need for constant vigilance of opponents’ moves make it a compelling choice for fans of strategic board games. However, it may not be the best fit for casual players or those who prefer simpler, more straightforward gameplay mechanics.

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