"Power Grid" is a dull name for a game (its French release, "Megawatts," and German name, "Funkenschlag," have a bit more pop), but the game is anything but dull. I fell in love with it by the second time I played it, and haven't wanted to stop since.
This is a game for 2-6 players, best with 5-6 in my opinion. It will take about 2 hours for experienced players, maybe 3 hours with inexperienced players.
It is usually considered to be a medium/medium-heavy strategy game. However, unlike many others, it is actually very easy for new players to learn, because of the structure of the game.
The game is played in turns with 5 "Phases" in each turn. (1) Determine Turn Order, (2) Auction Power Plants, (3) Purchase Resources, (4) Build/Connect Cities, and (5) Bureaucracy. Yes, the game really has a stage called "bureaucracy," but this turn is just about earning money and setting everything up for the next turn of the game.
The game is also played in three "Steps," which can be thought of as stages, each with slightly different rules about buying power plants, restocking resources, and building connections.
The ease of learning and teaching is because there is a specific turn order for each turn, so in any phase, the players are generally acting one at a time (except in the auction, depending on the results). While there is down time, you can anticipate your opponents' moves, so you still have something to think about.
A very positive aspect of this game is that on almost phase of every turn, you will be able to do SOMETHING (unlike, say, Settlers of Catan) to progress. The strategic question is, what thing do you want to do? You are limited by your money, the plants available, and the resources. Also, the player in the "lead" (the one who has connected the most cities, or, if tied, the highest-valued power plant) suffers a penalty of expensive resources, poorer plant choices, and fewer connection options on the power grid (board). But not jumping ahead can sometimes mean something won't be available for you later!
The turn order mechanic keeps the game very balanced. There are some advanced tips for the endgame that may elude beginners, but for the most part, games tend to be very close. The winner is the player who powers the most cities in the final round (which has specific end game conditions), with a tiebreaker of money.
Admittedly, the game isn't for everyone. You do have to be willing to do basic arithmetic (counting/adding to no more than about 150), and there is a lot of strategy to consider. You cannot simply grind your opponents into dust, unless you are lucky and they are foolish; you will need to grind out every city and manage your bank account down to the last dollar (which is called an "Electro," actually, in this game).
NOT INCLUDED: The game also has 7 official map expansions, an expansion deck with 2 new game variants, and an expansion with "robot" players who enhance a 2 player game, but can be used in up to 5 player games. Because each robot has 6 different rules/abilities, there are 6^6 = 46,656 different combinations of robot possible! The nice thing about this game's expansions is that most of them are very cheap (under $15) and usually have 2 different scenarios, which is a fantastic value.
I'd give it 6 stars out of 5 if I could. I've been playing this every chance I get for over a year, and I still can't get enough of it. I've found other games I like since then, but nothing I liked this much. If you want a game with great, balanced mechanics, and just a little bit of opportunity for "Take That" (but not too much), then this is a must-have. It's the one strategy game I have seen people who play lighter fare look at and say, "Hey, that looks really interesting!" just by pulling out the board. And if they are willing to stick with it, it's a rewarding experience for all.
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From the manufacturer
Author: Friedemann Friese
Power Grid
by Rio Grande Games
Power Grid is the updated release of the Friedemann Friese crayon game Funkenschlag. The latest cooperative publishing effort from Friedemann Friese and Rio Grande Games, removes the crayon aspect from network building in the original edition, while retaining the fluctuating commodities market like McMulti and an auction round reminiscent of The Princes of Florence.
- Challenging game of efficiency and resource management
- Usual playtime: 90 - 120 minutes
- New updated artwork and instructions
- Two to Six Players
- Suitable for ages 13 and up
Gameplay
The object of Power Grid is to supply the most cities with power. In this new edition, players mark pre-existing routes between cities for connection rights, and then vie against other players to purchase the power plants used to supply the power. However, as plants are purchased, newer more efficient plants become available so you’re potentially allowing others to access superior equipment merely by purchasing it all. Additionally, players must acquire the raw materials, like coal, oil, garbage, or uranium, to power said plants (except for the highly valuable ’renewable energy’ wind/solar plants), making it a constant struggle to upgrade your plants for maximum efficiency, while still retaining enough wealth to quickly expand your network to get the cheapest routes.
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Power Plant CardsPurchase power plants in the auction phase. Bidding against the other players to buy the plant you need. |
ResourcesBuy resources from the market to produce electricity in those power plants. With each power plant only storing the kind of resource it uses for production. |
City NetworkBuild a network of cities to supply with electricity from your power plants. The player who supplies the most cities with power wins the game! |
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