San Juan (2004) Board Game – Board Game Guys

San Juan is a card game that was released in 2004 by designer Andreas Seyfarth and artist Franz Vohwinkel. It is published by alea and falls into the categories of card game, city building, and economic strategy. The game is set in the capital city of Puerto Rico and players take on the roles of colonial governors, building and developing their own individual cities.

Game Components of San Juan

Deck of 110 building cards: Each card has a name, cost, special power, and victory point value.

5 role tiles: Builder, Producer, Trader, Councillor, and Prospector.

1 Governor tile: Indicates the first player for each round.

5 trading house tiles: Used to determine market conditions for trading.

Score pad and pencil: For tracking victory points.

Indigo plant cards: Starting cards for each player.

How To Setup San Juan

To set up the game, each player starts with one Indigo plant card from the building cards. The building cards are then shuffled, and each player receives a hand of four cards. The 5 role tiles are laid out, and the 5 trading house tiles are shuffled and placed face down. One player receives the Governor tile to indicate they go first in the round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Role Selection: Players take turns selecting role tiles, with the selector gaining a privilege for that role. Every player can take the action associated with the selected role, but the selector benefits more.

Card Management: Cards are used for building, as currency, and as goods. Players draw, spend, build, and produce cards throughout the game.

Building City: The objective is to build 12 cards into your tableau. Each building card has a special power and victory point value.

Rounds and Endgame: The game ends when a player builds their 12th card. Then, players sum up their victory points to determine the winner.

Player Experience

**San Juan** is highly accessible to new players due to its straightforward mechanics and simple setup. The game focuses on a single goal—building 12 cards—which helps new players stay focused. The card play and hand management are easy to understand, especially for those familiar with card games. The game’s design ensures that players are consistently engaged, with immediate feedback from their role selections and card plays.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Can be taught in less than five minutes.

High Replayability: Simple yet strategic gameplay with varied card combinations.

Engaging Mechanics: Role selection and card management provide immediate feedback and strategic depth.

Time-Efficient: Plays in about 30-45 minutes.

Versatile Player Count: Works well with 2-4 players, with special advantages in two-player mode.

Cons

Thematic Issues: The game’s colonial theme can be seen as dated and problematic, although the abstract design mitigates this.

Limited Complexity: While accessible, the game may not offer enough depth for experienced players seeking more complex strategies.

Personal Thoughts on San Juan

**San Juan** is ideal for players looking for a quick, strategic card game that bridges the gap between simpler fillers and more complex games like **Puerto Rico**. It is perfect for introducing role selection mechanics and is highly recommended for those who enjoy card games with a singular, focused objective. While it may not be as complex as other strategy games, its simplicity and engaging gameplay make it a great addition to any game night, especially for those who value shorter, yet meaningful, gaming experiences.

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