As a founder of Adventure Together Games, I have the pleasure of playing and evaluating countless board games in search of engaging, interactive experiences to learn from. One such game that recently caught my attention is MyCity, published by Kosmos. This is a legacy-style game designed by renowned board game designer Reiner Knizia. After spending a significant amount of time exploring MyCity, I wanted to share my thoughts on its gameplay, ease of access, and thematic integration.
Gameplay:
At its core, MyCity is a tile-placement game with a strong emphasis on spatial strategy. Players develop their own city by placing polyomino-shaped tiles on their personal boards, attempting to fill the available spaces efficiently while scoring points for clever placements. The game unfolds over 24 episodes, and with each episode, the rules evolve, introducing new elements and challenges that keep players on their toes.
What's particularly impressive about MyCity is how well it plays. The core mechanics are simple, yet offer a surprising amount of depth, keeping players engaged throughout the entire campaign. The game's difficulty curve is also well-tuned, gradually increasing the complexity without ever feeling overwhelming.
Ease of Access:
MyCity's rules are remarkably easy to pick up and play. The rulebook is clear and concise, allowing new players to dive into the game with minimal effort. Additionally, each new episode introduces only a small number of changes, which makes it easy for players to adapt without feeling like they are learning an entirely new game.
Theme and Interaction:
While MyCity excels in gameplay and accessibility, it does stumble when it comes to thematic integration and player interaction. Although the city-building theme is present, it doesn't feel as deeply ingrained in the mechanics as it could be. The game often feels more like a puzzle than a true city-building experience, making it harder for players to become immersed in the theme.
Furthermore, player interaction in MyCity is limited. Each person is largely focused on their own board, which can lead to a lack of engagement with other players. While the game does offer a competitive element, it often feels like a solitary endeavor.
Conclusion:
In summary, MyCity is an enjoyable and accessible board game that plays exceptionally well. It offers a compelling and challenging puzzle that keeps players engaged throughout the entire campaign. However, it falters when it comes to thematic integration and player interaction. The mechanics, though solid, do not feel as closely tied to the city-building theme as they could be, and the limited interaction between players may leave some feeling isolated.
Despite these shortcomings, MyCity still provides an enjoyable gaming experience, especially for those who appreciate a thoughtful spatial puzzle. But for players seeking a more immersive and interactive city-building experience, they might want to look elsewhere.
Adventure Together
Adventure Together is a tabletop publishing and technology company dedicated to creating immersive gaming experiences for enthusiasts and casual gamers alike. Our flagship tabletop experience, TimeScape, is an accessible and family-friendly miniature wargame set in a captivating sci-fi and fantasy universe at the end of time. TimeScape's unique gameplay experience is enhanced by the Scape system, a modular board game system that offers endless terrain customization and replayability - so you can adventure across countless worlds. Discover the fascinating worlds of TimeScape and other exciting gaming experiences from Adventure Together by joining our community Discord or signing up for our monthly Kickstarter newsletter.
