Skyrise (2024) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Skyrise is a city-building board game designed by Andrew Bosley and published by Roxley Games. Released in 2024, Skyrise has quickly gained popularity among board game enthusiasts for its innovative gameplay mechanics and engaging player experience. With a focus on area majority/influence, auction/bidding, end game bonuses, modular board, and variable set-up, Skyrise offers a dynamic and strategic gaming experience for 2-4 players.

Game Components of Skyrise

Modular board

Variable setup components

Building tiles

Neighborhood discs

Patron Value tiles

Wonder cards

Secret Objective cards

Panorama cards

Island Control card

Commission discs

Key to the City tokens

How To Setup Skyrise

To set up Skyrise, players start by placing the Island Control card and 2 randomly drawn Panorama cards near the board. Patron Value tiles are randomly placed face down on their designated spaces. Each player draws 3 Wonder cards and 1 Secret Objective card. The game board is a central connecting board where players will place their buildings.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Spatial auction game with area majority elements.

Game Mechanics: Auctions, territory control, resource collection, and variable player powers.

Objective: Players aim to score the most points by winning building sites, earning favors across islands and factions, and accomplishing public and secret objectives.

Auctions: Players bid to place buildings in unoccupied neighborhoods or next to existing buildings.

Scoring: Points are scored at the end of each of the two Eras based on building placements, neighborhood control, Patron discs, Commission discs, and fulfilling secret objectives.

Player Experience

Skyrise keeps players engaged from start to finish, requiring strategic thinking and quick decision-making. Each player’s turn is swift, involving decisions to bid or pass and where to place their buildings. The game is highly interactive, with players influencing each other’s options significantly. There is minimal downtime, except potentially for players prone to analysis paralysis.

Pros

High Player Interaction: Every move affects other players, making the game highly engaging.

Variable Setup: Ensures each game plays out differently.

Strategic Depth: Involves complex decision-making and resource management.

Quick Turns: Keeps the game moving at a good pace.

Replay Value: High due to the variety of Wonder cards and random setup.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players.

Analysis Paralysis: Some players might take a long time to make decisions.

Luck Element: Random draw of cards and tiles can affect gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Skyrise

Skyrise is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with high player interaction and variable setup. It’s perfect for those who appreciate the challenge of managing resources, bidding in auctions, and navigating complex objectives. The game’s replay value is high, making it a great addition to any board game collection for fans of strategy and city-building themes. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those who prefer simpler rulesets.

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