While we liked Santa Monica the first time we played it, our gameplay was a bit rough with learning how to best place the cards, move the meeples, and score. With the next few plays, Santa Monica climbed its way onto BOTH of our top five lists.
Here’s what we love about Santa Monica, in our own words:
Stephanie: First off, the art and theme are awesome, and definitely what caught my eye when the game was released. I love 14 turns to choose the best cards for maximum scoring. It’s really puzzley without being a brainburner, and we can play in about 30 minutes.
Brian: I like that there is strategy to the game, but it doesn’t feel complex – this makes it a perfect 25-30 minute weeknight game for us. It’s fun to look for combos to try to score and make chains of cards. The art is great.
Who should play: people who like drafting and tableau building games with a nice theme we don’t usually see in boardgaming / people who like puzzley games
Good for newbies? I think for new gamers, getting used to different scoring methods and iconography can be challenging. BUT, I think this game is generally accessible.
Good for kids? The Board Game Geek community puts this game at a 10+ (never go by the ages on the box, as this is for safety testing, NOT ability) and I would agree with that. There is minimal reading, but the game is strategic.
Want to learn more about Santa Monica? Check out this post that covers the game in-depth!
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