Blue Orange Games is a household name around here. They are known for imaginative, bright and engaging games for all ages. We had the chance to test drive one of their newer cooperative games called Link City. It’s quick to learn and doesn’t disappoint!
In this game, players work together to build a city using square tiles, endeavoring to guess what’s on the mayor’s mind. The key is placing like buildings adjacent to each other. Sometimes, it’s pretty obvious, like linking the post office and city hall together. But where do you put the tattoo parlor? Is that better suited to a discoteque or a fashion boutique?
Such are the questions that you must ponder as you “link” all of the pieces of your city together.
Gameplay is simple: The mayor secretly decides where he will place the newest buildings. His decisions are hidden behind a privacy screen and this sets the scene for each round. All other players must deliberate about the best placement, and it makes for some very interesting discussion!
Guesses are marked with colorful little road cones. Players can score bonus tiles by correctly guessing all of the mayor’s choices, and points are earned according to the number of little trees that are touching on adjacent tiles. When players guess incorrectly, the mayor places those tiles diagonally (touching at the corners); no points are awarded and may God have mercy on your soul! Actually, it just makes the city look at bit wonky and means it will be that much trickier the next round for players to decide where to place the newest batch of buildings.
Whatever the outcomes, you always end up with a one-of-a-kind city and plenty of banter and laughs. Cooperative games like this are ideal for families and mixed groups because there’s not a lot of pressure on each individual player, and everyone stays engaged for nearly the entire game.
If you’ve ever played Resistance or Codenames, you’ll know just what I mean about how satisfying it is to enter into the fun and soak up the laughs and heated opinions. It’s not so much about winning or losing as it about the experience!
The suggested age range for Link City is eight and up, but it’s crucial that young players can read well and understand the different types of buildings that might be in a town. These skills are necessary for game play, as the goal is to group similar venues together. For instance, a post office and a bank fit together better than a post office and a tattoo parlor!
Link City Specs:
Style: Cooperative, Social, Decision-Making
Ages: 8 and up
Players: 2-6 players
What’s in the Box:
72 Tiles, 4 Construction Cones, 1 City Hall Screen and Full-Color Rule Book
You can find Link City and other “beautifully crafted games for the whole family” at Blue Orange Games; also, follow on Facebook and sign up for their email newsletter so you’ll hear about the newest releases!
Blue Orange games are a favorite! Kingdomino is one of the best.
Looks like a cool concept! Does the same player remain mayor the entire game?
Good question! I failed to mention in the review that the position of mayor rotates, so everyone gets a turn. – Anne Marie