One of the best things about playing board games is that they let you try things you'll never get to do in real life. Here's a look at the best games with a city-building theme.
Absolutely great plastic bits make this game even more fun. Building in eight neighborhoods, players try to locate their constructions in the best possible locations. For two to five players, although it's best with three or four.
The board game Metropolis was probably the inspiration for Big City. As in the previous game, the city is divided into sections and players try to establish the best buildings. In Metropolis, a strong negotiation factor comes into play. For two to five players.
In Manhattan, the city is divided into six neighborhoods, with nine blocks available for building in each neighborhood. You have free choice among the neighborhoods, but your cards restrict you to building only on certain blocks. Points are earned for having the most buildings in a neighborhood and having the tallest building. For two to four players.
If you like negotiation games, chances are you'll like playing the city-building game Chinatown. First, you negotiate to buy sections of the neighborhood and then you add businsses. To get the best score, you'll have to trade well with your opponents. For three to five players.
One player wondered whether Capitol could be described as "Manhattan on steroids." The game is played in rounds, each of which consists of four phases. You construct your buildings off the board and then use permit cards to place them. You only have eight roofs, so use them wisely. For two to four players.
