Lorenzo il Magnifico
- Designer Flaminia Brasini , Virginio Gigli , Simone Luciani
- Publisher Cranio Creations , Albi , Albi Polska , Angry Lion Games , Atalia
- Illustration Klemens Franz , Andrea Kattnig , Andreas Resch
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
You lead a noble family in Renaissance Italy and place family members around the city to gain resources, development cards and activate effects. Family members have values determined by three dice each round, so placement choices matter. There are multiple paths to victory points and a faith track tied to the Church that can cause penalties. The game is played over three periods (six rounds) after which final scoring decides the winner.
Who Is This Game For?
Aimed at experienced euro/enthusiast players rather than casual family groups. With a typical duration of about 120 minutes it's suited to a longer game night. New players benefit from patient opponents or a few practice games to learn card interactions.
How It Works
Core play revolves around sending family members to city locations (worker-placement-like) with values set by dice (Dice Rolling). Development cards are acquired via Open Drafting and Contracts, while Variable Set-up changes each play. Turn Order: Claim Action influences who acts when, and End Game Bonuses affect final scoring.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli and Simone Luciani, Lorenzo combines dice-determined action strength with card-driven development and contractual choices. It was nominated for the Meeples Choice Award (2016), International Gamers Award (2017), Origins Awards (2018) and MinD-Spielepreis (2019). Multiple digital implementations increase accessibility.
Awards
2017
- 2019 MinD-Spielepreis Complex Game — Nominated
- 2018 Origins Awards Best Board Game — Nominated
- 2016 Meeples Choice Award — Nominated
Pro
- Multiple strategic paths to victory through cards and contracts
- Dice Rolling ties luck to tactical placement of family members
- Variable Set-up and varied development cards boost replayability
- Recognized by several nominations (Meeples Choice 2016; International Gamers 2017; Origins 2018; MinD 2019)
Contra
- Long playtime (~120 minutes) requires commitment
- Complexity can be a steep learning curve for newcomers
- No solo option (players start at 2)
Setting & Atmosphäre
Set in Renaissance Italy, players act as heads of noble families in a Florentine-style city dealing with church relations, territorial development and patronage.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Focus first on learning how dice values affect placement and on a small set of card interactions before expanding to full strategies.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
No. The listed player count starts at 2; there is no solo mode indicated.
How long does a game really take?
Duration is about 120 minutes; teaching and setup will add time, especially on first plays.
What prior experience do I need?
It's best for experienced euro gamers; familiarity with engine-building and card-management helps.
How does this compare to similar games?
Lorenzo blends Dice Rolling with Contracts and Open Drafting, making the dice-driven action strength central compared to pure worker-placement euros.
Is this suitable for families?
Given the complexity and age recommendation (12+), it's more suitable for older children and adults than for younger family groups.
What mechanic makes it special?
The interaction of Dice Rolling with family-member placement and Contracts defines the game's core mechanical identity.
Fazit
Lorenzo il Magnifico offers deep strategic decision-making and multiple scoring routes; recommended for players who enjoy planning over about 120 minutes. Less suitable for casual or very young groups.
