Venice (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Venice is a board game released in 2021 by Braincrack Games. Designed by Andrei Novac and Dávid Turczi, the game is set in Renaissance Venice, where players take on the roles of powerful families vying for control of the city. With elements of economics, politics, religion, and espionage, Venice offers a strategic and immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Venice

Game board featuring a map of Venice

Gondolas and gondolier figures

Resource tokens

Building tiles

Assistant cards with various bonuses

Mission cards

Coins

Cubes for tracking goods and other game elements

How To Setup Venice

To set up the game, start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Shuffle and distribute the building tiles, ensuring they are randomly placed around the board. Each player chooses a set of gondolas and a gondolier. Resource tokens, coins, and other components are also distributed according to the player count. Mission cards are shuffled and dealt to the players. The game includes different setup rules for solo and two-player modes, such as the Doge automa for solo play and the Smugglers rule set for two players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their gondolier to perform various actions such as picking up goods, delivering goods, and using building abilities.

Pick-Up and Deliver: Players move their gondolas to pick up and deliver goods across the map.

Resource Management: Managing resources such as coins and goods to optimize actions.

Engine Building: Enhancing the capabilities of the gondolas and the gondolier through assistant cards and building bonuses.

Objective: The goal is to earn the most points by delivering goods, completing missions, and using the abilities of the buildings and assistants effectively.

Player Experience

Playing Venice is an immersive experience that combines strategic planning with tactical execution. The game’s vibrant map of Venice and the cute gondolas add a charming touch. Players must balance resource management with the need to chain multiple actions together in a single turn to maximize their score. The variability in building placements and mission cards ensures that no two games are the same, keeping the game fresh and challenging. However, the busy board and tight spaces can sometimes lead to fiddly gameplay, especially at higher player counts.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Combines multiple mechanics to offer deep strategic gameplay.

Variability: Different building placements and mission cards ensure high replayability.

Engaging Theme: The Venetian setting and gondola mechanics are visually appealing and thematic.

Flexible Gameplay: Includes solo and two-player modes with unique rules.

Cons

Fiddly Gameplay: Tight spaces on the board can lead to accidental knocking over of components.

Complexity: May feel overwhelming for new players due to the combination of mechanics.

Space Requirements: The game requires a significant amount of table space.

Personal Thoughts on Venice

Venice is ideal for fans of strategic and economic games who enjoy a mix of worker placement, pick-up and deliver, and engine building mechanics. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with high replayability due to its variable setup. While it may be more complex and fiddly at times, the game’s charm and depth make it a worthwhile investment for those looking to engage in a rich and immersive gaming experience. However, it might not be the best fit for those seeking quick, simple games or those who prefer games with ample table space.

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