London
- Designer Martin Wallace
- Publisher Treefrog Games
- Illustration Mike Atkinson , Natalia Borek , Peter Dennis , Simon Jannerland , Przemysław Sobiecki
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
In London, you rebuild the city after the Great Fire of 1666. Players select cards with cashflow, victory points, and poverty penalties to manage their city efficiently. You must make tough choices between business, monuments, or social welfare. Cards are laid in a line to build your tableau. Running your city activates buildings in any order to generate money, points, or reduce poverty.
Who Is This Game For?
London targets experienced gamers aged 13 and up who enjoy complex economic strategy games. The 90-minute playtime demands patience and some familiarity with hand management and tableau building mechanics. It's not designed as a family game.
How It Works
The core mechanics are hand management and open drafting: players pick cards from open selections and add them to their tableau. At any time, a player can run their city to trigger building actions for resources, victory points, or poverty reduction. Some cards require an entry cost before activation, adding tactical timing decisions.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Martin Wallace, London won the 2010 Meeples Choice Award and received several strategy award nominations. It stands out by combining city building with economic mechanics in a rich historical setting post-Great Fire of London.
Awards
2011
2011
- 2011 JoTa Best Card Game — Nominated
- 2010 Meeples Choice Award — Winner
Pro
- Rich historical city-building theme
- Combination of hand management and tableau building
- Meeples Choice Award winner 2010
- Tactical decisions via open drafting and building activation
Contra
- Not suitable for younger families (age 13+)
- Strategic complexity requires learning
- 90-minute playtime demands focus
Setting & Atmosphäre
Set in post-Great Fire London, players rebuild the city through the 19th century with famous buildings and technological advances featured on cards.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Focus on managing your cards well and choose the right timing to run your city for activation.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
London is designed for 2 to 4 players and does not have a solo mode.
How long does a game really take?
A typical game lasts about 90 minutes, plus setup and explanation time.
What prior experience do I need?
Some familiarity with hand management and tableau building helps due to the game's strategic depth.
How does this compare to similar games?
London blends city building with economic mechanics and stands out for its historical theme and mix of hand management with open drafting.
Is this suitable for families?
Due to complexity and minimum age of 13, it's better suited for experienced gamers than young families.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of hand management, open drafting, and tableau building defines the gameplay.
Fazit
London is recommended for players seeking a complex economic city-building experience with strategic hand management. Best for 2-4 players who enjoy about 90 minutes of gameplay with historical themes.
