Santorini: New York (2020) Board Game

Santorini: New York is a reimagining of the popular board game Santorini, set in the bustling city of New York. It was released in 2020 and designed by Lina Cossette and David Forest, with artwork by Roxley. This abstract strategy game puts players in the shoes of builders competing to be the first to reach the top of a skyscraper.

Game Components of Santorini: New York

New York City shaped board: A unique, oblong board differing from the traditional 4×4 grid of the original.

Role cards: Each player receives role cards with special abilities, which are played simultaneously and resolved based on their values.

Worker pawns: Each player controls two worker pawns.

Building levels: Used to construct skyscrapers.

Statue of Liberty token: A crucial token required to win the game.

Engineer role: Always available, responsible for introducing skyscrapers to the board.

Diverse character cards: Featuring men, women, and diverse racial and body type representations.

How To Setup Santorini: New York

To set up the game, you choose four roles that will be used, with the engineer always available. Each role has a specific color and set of cards with special abilities. Players create a deck with these role cards and pass five of them out to each player. The players then place their figures on the indicated spots on the board corresponding to their player number.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Move and Build: Basic actions involve moving a pawn to an adjacent space and building a level of a building in any space next to you.

Role Card Play: Players play role cards at the beginning of each round, with the highest value card earning the Statue of Liberty token. The player with the lowest value card goes first.

Special Actions: Depending on the roles, players can perform special actions before or after moving or building.

Initiative System: The order of play is determined by the value of the role cards played.

Winning Condition: The game is won by being the first player to reach the third level of a building while holding the Statue of Liberty token.

Player Experience

**Santorini: New York** offers a fresh and dynamic experience, particularly suited for higher player counts compared to the original game. The introduction of role cards and an initiative system adds a new layer of strategy and unpredictability. The game is easy to learn but rich in strategic depth, making it appealing to fans of abstract strategy games.

Pros

Suitable for multiple players: Handles 2 to 5 players well, especially excelling with higher player counts.

Diverse and inclusive artwork: Features a diverse set of characters, including different racial and body types.

New mechanics: Introduces significant changes from the original, such as the initiative system and role card play.

Attractive components: Comes with beautifully designed and high-quality components.

Cons

Role card complexity: Some players might find the shared role cards too streamlined or overwhelming compared to the original.

Skyscrapers as obstacles: Skyscrapers can sometimes feel like annoyances rather than meaningful obstacles.

Random elements: The random nature of role card draws can interfere with players’ plans.

Personal Thoughts on Santorini: New York

**Santorini: New York** is perfect for fans of abstract strategy games looking for a new challenge. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy games with dynamic mechanics and strategic depth. While it maintains the elegance of the original, it stands out as an independent game that caters well to higher player counts, making it a great addition to any board game collection. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy, luck, and a bit of city-building excitement, **Santorini: New York** is definitely worth checking out.

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