Valparaíso (2018) Board Game

Valparaíso is a board game that was released in 2018 by designers Stefan Malz and Louis Malz. The game is set in the bustling port city of Valparaíso, Chile, known for its colorful houses and steep hills. Players take on the roles of entrepreneurs looking to make a name for themselves in this vibrant city by developing businesses and expanding their influence.

Game Components of Valparaíso

Game board featuring the harbor of Valparaiso

Player tokens and markers

Trade cards

Building tiles

Resource tokens

Rulebook

How To Setup Valparaíso

To set up the game, players first place the game board in the middle of the playing area, ensuring it is accessible to all players. Each player chooses a token and places it on the starting space on the board. The trade cards and building tiles are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Resource tokens are distributed according to the player count. Finally, each player receives a starting hand of trade cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: Players take turns in a sequence, with each turn allowing them to perform specific actions such as trading, building, or using special abilities.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources to build structures and trade effectively.

Area Control: Players compete to control different areas of the board, such as the harbor, to gain advantages.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by developing the city, trading effectively, and building valuable structures.

Player Experience

Playing **Valparaíso** involves a mix of strategic planning and tactical execution. Players need to balance resource collection, trading, and building to maximize their points. The game requires a good understanding of economic mechanics and spatial reasoning to optimize the use of the board. The interaction between players is primarily through the competition for resources and space on the board.

Pros

Engaging Economic Mechanics: The game offers deep economic strategies, making it appealing to fans of economic board games.

Replayability: The random distribution of trade cards and building tiles ensures each game is unique.

Player Interaction: While not overly confrontational, the game provides a healthy level of competition among players.

Thematic Immersion: The game’s theme of building and trading in a historic city like Valparaiso adds to its charm.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a moderate to high level of complexity, which may deter casual gamers.

Setup Time: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the need to shuffle and distribute numerous components.

Learning Curve: New players may need some time to understand the rules and strategies.

Personal Thoughts on Valparaíso

**Valparaíso** is ideal for fans of economic and strategic board games. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy games like *Puerto Rico* or *San Juan*, as it offers a similar blend of resource management and area control. While it may not be the best fit for very casual gamers due to its complexity, it is a great addition to any serious board game collection. The game’s theme and mechanics make it an engaging and challenging experience that rewards strategic thinking and good planning.

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.