Urbify (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Urbify is a city-building board game released in 2023, designed by Jesús Gutiérrez Llorente and illustrated by Looping Games. The game is set in a bustling urban environment where players compete to develop their own city districts and attract the most prestigious inhabitants. With a mix of strategy and tile placement mechanics, Urbify offers an engaging gameplay experience for 2 to 4 players.

Game Components of Urbify

1 town hall board

4 influence boards

36 tiles

30 buildings

1 main square

1 start player token

4 extra points tokens

24 politicians

20 influence cubes

4 scoring tokens

Rulebooks in English and Spanish.

How To Setup Urbify

To set up Urbify, each player selects a political party and receives the corresponding influence board and politicians. The town hall board is placed in the center, and the main square is positioned adjacent to it. The building tiles and influence cubes are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Each player starts with a set of politicians and influence cubes on their influence board. The game is ready to begin once all components are distributed and the initial setup is complete.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Area Influence: Players influence four city council departments – tourism, economy, culture, and transportation.

Resource Management: Players manage influence cubes and politicians to secure building permits.

Strategic Planning: Players must negotiate and plan to execute major construction projects.

Game Objective

The primary goal is to secure the best building permits, construct projects, and gain prestige. The player whose political party accumulates the most prestige upon the city’s completion wins the game.

Player Experience

Urbify is a game that initially may seem complex due to its unique mechanics, but it quickly becomes clear after the first round. Players must strategically place their influence and politicians to secure valuable building permits. The game requires tactical skill, as players can influence each other’s moves and block opponents’ actions. Despite its simplicity in rules, Urbify offers deep strategic gameplay, making it engaging and challenging.

Pros

Compact and Portable: The game comes in a small box, ideal for traveling and camping.

Simple yet Deep: The rules are easy to explain, but the game has a lot of tactical depth.

Strategic Influence: Players can force opponents to help them or incur negative points by strategic placements.

Polished Mechanics: The game is well-designed with a unique 3D block-laying mechanic.

Cons

Initial Complexity: The game can be hard to understand at the start, despite simple actions.

Rulebook Quality: The rulebook is okay but could be better at teaching the game initially.

Personal Thoughts on Urbify

Urbify is a great fit for players who enjoy strategic and tactical games without the complexity of lengthy rulebooks. It is perfect for those who appreciate area influence and resource management mechanics. While it may appeal more to experienced gamers due to its depth, new players can quickly grasp the rules and join in on the fun. This game is ideal for anyone looking for a challenging yet portable city-building experience.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.