Santorini
- Designer: Gord! (Gordon Hamilton)
- Publisher: Roxley Games
- Players: 2-4
- Age: 8+
- Time: 20 minutes
- Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45wiQaw
- Played with review copy provided by publisher
You are a god out of Greek mythology. Compete against fellow gods to get a loyal follower on top of a temple on the beautiful island of Santorini. Each turn you move, and then build a part of the temple. Be careful where you build lest the opposing god get the advantage. Strategic thinking and your unique godly power will win the day.
Santorini is an accessible strategy game, simple enough for an elementary school classroom while aiming to provide gameplay depth and content for hardcore gamers to explore. Santorini features variable player powers layered over an otherwise abstract game, with 32 thematic god and hero powers that fundamentally change the way the game is played.
To start the game, choose the mode you want to play (1v1, 2v2 teams, 3-way throwdown, The Agora), and each player gets a god based on the mode rules. Note that some of the gods may prevent others from being in play at the same time. Keep choosing/drawing gods until you get a compatible set of gods. Each god has a special rule breaking ability that you will get to take advantage of during the game.
The rules are simple. Each turn consists of 2 steps:
- Move – move one of your builders into a neighboring space. You may move your Builder Pawn on the same level, step-up one level, or step down any number of levels.
- Build – Then construct a building level adjacent to the builder you moved. When building on top of the third level, place a dome instead, removing that space from play. You can build up or down any number of levels – it just has to be adjacent to the space you are on.
If either of your builders reaches the third level, you win. You lose the game if you get stuck and cannot move on your turn.
My thoughts on the game
Santorini is a 2-player duel which has been around for quite some time; the original version of the game having been published in 2016. I had played the original around when it came out, but as with many games (especially 2-player only games), it managed to leave the game collection.
I remember liking the game, and I was happy to get a chance to play this newly updated version of the game – getting a chance to play the second edition – this version includes 32 gods cards which provides plenty of possible variety to your games. It also includes a number of different mode cards which expands the game to as many as four players. Of note, the newest collection of Santorini games also includes a Pantheon edition (with 100! gods) as well as a cooperative version, Riddle of the Sphinx.
My return to the game was well received. I have had a number of sessions with the new version, and I have definitely enjoyed playing with all of the new Gods. As each God brings a unique rule changing ability to the table, the strategic focus of each game also changes.
The base rules are unchanged, and are really dead simple. All of the rules pretty much fit on one side of a card, and those base rules can truly be explained in just a minute or two. So, I would definitely applaud the game for needing only a single rule sheet. However, that being said, I do wish that there was maybe a bit more documentation on the different God card abilities. Over the course of my play this year, there have been a few cases where we had questions about a particular card, and it would have been nice to have some official clarification on the special powers. (There are some clarifications for each god on the back of the card, but if you had further questions… there was nothing else to look at). In the end, my opponent and I simply had to agree on an interpretation and go with it.
Are the gods balanced? I think so? It’s really hard to tell, especially as I haven’t played them all yet and I doubt anyone has played every combination possible. Some of the God powers certainly feel stronger than others, but none have felt game breaking or invincible. As games are of a fairly short duration, even if a pairing feels unbalanced, you can always choose different Gods for the next game or simply exchange roles and see how it goes with the opposite lineup.
The plastic sculpts used for the buildings are nice and sturdy, and they stack together nicely and securely. The end result is a beautiful looking tableau that grows with each turn. My version comes with a nicely raised platform that makes it a bit easier to see the buildings, and I do have a little lazy susan that we have also used to allow players to rotate the board to more easily see things.
If you have the original version, I’m not sure if you need to replace that version (though the updated God cards may be enough reason). If you don’t have the original, this is a great game to look into. I think it’s still a 2-player game at heart, but it also has flexibility in playing 3 and 4 players. It’s still an abstract game, but one that doesn’t feel dry and stodgy – due to the different Gods and the wonderful art.
Ratings from the Opinionated Gamers
- I love it!
- I like it. Dale Y
- Neutral.
- Not for me…
Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45wiQaw
