51st State

Designer: Ignacy Trzewiczek
Artist: Grzegorz Bobrowski
Published: 2016
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 60-90 Mins
BGG Rating: 7.6
BGG Ranking: 405
Publisher: Portal Games
Mechanisms: Action Chaining, Hand Management, Multi-Use Cards, Open Drafting, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement
Sleeves: TCG 63,5x88mm

Game Description:

The world you know no longer exists. There is no government. No army. No civilization. The United States has collapsed, and now thirty years after the war started, new powers finally try to take control over the ruined country, try to establish a new order, try to control others and create a new country, a new state: the 51st State.

Quick play overview:

Players start with a faction and 4 cards (discarded down from 6 starting cards) and they are off to the races, who will reach first 25 points and more.

A round starts with a draft where players will get 2 cards from a common pile.

After that each player will collect all the resources that his faction and what his buildings and deals provide.

Once the collecting is done, the meat of the game starts where players will do one action per player in a clockwise direction until all players have passed and the resources are cleared and a new round begins with a draft. Once a player passes 25 points the game end is triggered. Players play out the res tof the actions that they can do and then add 1 point for each building they have constructed and the player with most points is the winner.

Cards have 3 types of usage. They can be:

• changed into a DEAL (a production bonus when played and each following production turn)
• Constructed (a production bonus when played and each following production turn AND one point at the end of the game)
• RAZED (cards is discarded but it gives you many resources as a one time reward)

All the above actions are taken in exchange for 3 types (blue, grey and red) of distance tokens.

Players will chain actions to make resource-providing deals/buildings, that will be changed into distance tokens to produce more resources that will be changed into points etc. etc. 

Add to the above the option that a player can also attack opponents buildings (at a step price… so you better think twice if it's worth it) to disrupt their strategy… and upgrades.. and running out of cards.. and sending your workers to opponents buildings…

You get a heck of a thinky and rewarding game.

Final thoughts:

This game is amazing. We played it a lot in the past and we still enjoy it to this day. Each card having 3 options how to use it, with the very tight »distance token« policy and you have a crounchy card game with an amazing theme.  

I suggest to get the Master or Ultimate editions that include expansions that give a ton more options and great combos.

FINAL SCORE:

Gameplay & How often I want to play it: 10/10

I love the cards with multiple options and the chaining of actions that make your turn go long and let you feel like you are a leader of a huge state.

We do plan to play this game a few times a year for several years to come.

Art & Graphic Design:

The game is old but still quite pleasant to the eye... at least if you like the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

Graphic design is well done. There is some text on cards but 99% of info is provided by well done icons.

Rules & Complexity:

I just had to re-learn the game as I lent it to a friend for a longer period. The rules are simple and clear and never get in the way of gameplay. There is never a moment where players have to stop the game to check on the rules.

Theme & Mechanism fit:

Nations building up their factories and/or making deals and razing locations outside their boarders fits the post-apocalyptic theme perfectly. Players sending workers to their or neighbouring factories to get resources.. like a Mad Max movie.

Fun & Replayability:

Attacking, dealing, building or rebuilding … finding nice combinations of production and actions that change your inventory into points is fun.

There can be a dud game where you just don't get the right cards to start the game.. but this are very rare case.

There is a ton of combos in the basic set already, but with the 2 expansions provided in the master set, there are many different paths you can take.