Streets (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Streets is a city-building board game designed by Haakon Gaarder and published by Sinister Fish Games in in 2021. The game allows players to compete in creating the most vibrant and bustling city by strategically placing tiles and collecting resources. With a mix of set collection, tile placement, and variable player powers, Streets offers a unique gaming experience for 1-5 players.

Game Components of Streets

Tiles representing various buildings and streets

Ownership signs for players

Meeples (hipsters, tourists, parents, shoppers) in different colors

Set collection tokens (with the Business Expansion)

Special power cards (with the Consultants Expansion)

Cash

How To Setup Streets

To set up Streets, each player starts with three tiles in hand. The remaining tiles are placed face down within reach of all players. The game begins with the placement of the first tile, and players take turns adding tiles to the growing city, ensuring they are placed in line with or perpendicular to existing tiles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players lay tiles to build the city, adding ownership signs and meeples matching the symbols on the tiles.

Scoring: Streets are scored when enclosed by perpendicular tiles at both ends. Players calculate the score for each tile, moving meeples to new, non-enclosed streets.

FOMO Mechanic: Meeples with nowhere to go get “FOMO” and can be moved to new tiles by subsequent players.

Expansions: The Business Expansion adds set collection tokens for bonus cash, and the Consultants Expansion gives players special powers.

Objective: The player with the most cash at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

Playing Streets involves a mix of tactical decisions and adaptive strategies. The game’s core mechanics are simple, but scoring streets can be complex and time-consuming. Players must balance tile placement with the need to maximize their scoring opportunities. The game’s dynamic nature, with meeples moving between tiles, adds a layer of complexity and interaction.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: The tile-laying mechanism and meeple movement create an engaging and dynamic city-building experience.

Strategic Depth: Players need to think tactically about where to place tiles and how to maximize their scores.

Expansions: The included expansions add more complexity and replay value.

Visual Appeal: The game’s visual design helps in immersing players in the city-building process.

Cons

Scoring Interruptions: Scoring streets can significantly slow down the game, especially with larger player counts.

Administrative Tasks: The scoring process involves a lot of administrative work, which can interrupt the flow of the game.

Memory Requirement: Players need to remember their special powers if using the Consultants Expansion.

Personal Thoughts on Streets

Streets is ideal for players who enjoy light to mid-weight games with a strategic edge. It’s perfect for those who like tile-laying games and are looking for a game that combines simplicity with depth. However, players who prefer fast-paced games without frequent interruptions might find the scoring mechanism tedious. Overall, Streets is a great choice for those who enjoy building and managing a dynamic cityscape.

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