Patrician

Tower-Building Simplicity

So apparently back in Renaissance Italy, there were some wealthy families who competed with each other to build the tallest towers around. Obviously I’ve never been in that kind of position, but hey, I like building tall things, and I sometimes like to pretend that I cater to rich people. So I’m in!

Patrician was designed by Michael Schacht, the same award-winning genius who brought us the award-winning Zooloretto. And like its predecessor, this game is simple, easy to learn, and yet tactically satisfying. It’s no small feat to balance limited options with meaningful choices when it comes to game design, but this one nails it.

The Breakdown

• Decisions: 4/5. Each round you have three cards, which means you have three choices. But each time, it’s a tough choice. There’s enough going on that I have to think it through, but not so much going on that I feel overwhelmed. (Not that I mind that…)
• Artwork: 4/5. The artwork style is elegant and fancy, which fits the theme perfectly. Could it be nicer? Sure, I guess. But nt by much.
• Replayability: 4/5. Because the cards laid out in front of each city change from round to round, I find that I’m kept on my toes each time I play, No autopilot decisions here; I need to approach each game on its ow terms.
• Awesomeness: 4/5. It’s funny—if this game lasted a bit longer, I might just be tempted to give this a 5 out of 5. Make no mistake, this game is great, and well worth owning!

TOTAL SCORE: 16/20

Bottom line: I love Patrician, and would play it multiple times a week. Don’t let the theme fool you—it’s simple and fun, but strategic enough for geeks like me who like to over-think things. Happy building!