SAINT PETERSBURG: A classic in modern boardgames since 2004
Posted: 16 December 2020, 12:03
Hi-dilly-ho, neighborinos!
Saint Petersburg (or Sankt Petersburg in German) is a well-made success story above all. The game is based on what has made Alhambra, San Juan or other similar games successful: each player plays on their own with few interactions and neat components.
The game has won many awards, all around the world, and has been very popular amongst players ever since.
In Saint Petersburg, you're developing the city at the beginning of the 18th century, with craftsmen, constructions and nobles to manage. A true German-style game, i.e. mechanics are really the heart of the game.
The game is split into several rounds, each of which is composed of virtually similar phases, the cards changing for each phase.
Basically, you place cards face up on the board, and either buy one, take one from your hand (a reservation), put one from your hand on your own board, and pay the cost or pass. So 4 possible actions. Easy.
Except that, cards are rather expensive and money quickly becomes scarce. Knowing that for all similar cards the cost decreases, and that the remaining cards in the next round will cost one less. So the game holds a certain "push your luck" flavor: you buy right away, you reserve or you wait until it becomes cheaper.
Some cards will bring money, depending on the phase, and others will bring victory points. It's all about making the right investment choices at the right time.
In the end, the rules are extremely clear, well explained and very fluid. You don't have to wait between turns, even at 5 players.
You can give it a try here :
https://boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?ga ... petersburg
All our thanks go to Hans Im Gluck and to the game designer Bernd Brunnhofer, without forgetting of course to tip our hats to our developer Marcuda for the top-notch work he has done on this adaptation.
You'll probably enjoy the interesting mechanics, including playing by phases with different gains at the end of each one. The whole feel is very strategic, and the game will especially please analytical players.
It works like a card game, for lovers of management and calculation games.
And now, what else can we ding dong diddly do for you?
