Spin Master Santorini (Multi) Strategy Board Game

The game is easy to learn and get into for all family members. However, unlike some other family board games, there is very little luck involved. Winning depends on cold calculation. It's not unlike simplified chess with god powers. If a kid gets too carried away with her god powers or is intimidated by your god powers and starts playing defense, she will easily lose track of the basic winning strategy and will lose time after time.I have a little gamer in the family (11), and we are evenly matched on every other board game we play (Catan, Wingspan, Ticket to Ride, Minecraft, etc.). But in Santorini, I am unable to lose because it is so simple for me to calculate the winning moves. Hopefully, her game will improve with time. I am fully endorsing the game, but if you want it to truly be enjoyable for the entire family, you may need to be able to throw a few gimmies here and there -- or play against someone whose brains works like yours.Unlike many other board games, this game is best for 2 players. 3-player play can be intense and drag forever as players continually disrupt one another's winning schemes. 4 players play as two teams of 2. It is not possible to play with more than 4.While the game can (and should, the first few rounds) be played without god powers, it is the 30 different Greek gods, heroes and mythical creatures, whose powers -- and their opposing combinations -- make the game infinitely replayable. Our house rule is that during the setup the most godlike person (me) picks random god cards equal the number of players plus 1, and then all players starting with the youngest pick a power. That leaves the last person with a choice. The official rules state that the number of god power cards should be equal to the number of players.Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!

My fiance and I love playing games, but we can have different tastes so it can be hard to find a game we both enjoy. He enjoys very strategic games that can require a long time and a lot of thought. I enjoy games where you can still have a conversation with each other. We have a few standards that we both love to play that fall in a middle ground (challenging, but not too much, and usually somewhat faster gameplay) but we needed to get some variety. My fiance went to a local game store and one of the employees HIGHLY recommended Santorini. My fiance bought it, but was highly skeptical because it looks very childish. We sat down and played it and fell in love and it has become out go-to game.First, the written instructions are a little confusing. Thankfully there are videos on YouTube to help illustrate. We had to look a few up before we could play our first round. You should play a few rounds without the god cards to get a feel for it. Then add in the god cards when it starts to get a little to easy to be enjoyable. Sometimes when we're wanting to play but are just brain-tired we'll play without the god cards then too. It's nice that you can adjust the complexity of the game. I haven't played this game with children, but it seems like a game that would have broad appeal. For reference we are 30 and 36 and we still really enjoy this game, so it's not just for families.Game play seems to be somewhat quick, but can vary. Some of our games are done in a few minutes, some take a little longer. But they are quick enough to play a few rounds. I like games that have quicker play because you don't get too emotionally invested in the outcome and it gives you freedom to test out and hone new strategies, plus it makes the players move faster because they know it isn't the end of the world if you lose because you can always play a new round. Nothing is worse than sitting across from your opponent waiting and waiting for them to think through their move. My fiance does have a habit of that, but when he knows we're playing a few rounds and the rounds are quick it helps him make moves quicker.Set up is easy and fast.We're still getting a hang on the god cards and which ones work well with each other. But that's another reason that faster rounds is nice. If you pair two god cards together that don't make for a good game it's not the end of the world. Just try another pairing the next time. They can totally change the feel of the game and I love that.We haven't tried playing with more than two people yet, but I think it would be really fun.Overall this is now one of our favorite games for two people. Don't let the artwork fool you, it is great for adults as well.

Much of Santorini is very basic. You move and place a platform. Try to mount your character as the statue on the 3rd level of the buildings. Done. Yet, there is a lot more strategy going on in this game.Most people play only 2 players despite the game being up to 4. The character powers are interesting but there's only 2 to pick from for the 2 player. That isn't exactly a bad thing though.When i play this 2 player it's fun. When i play it 3 player it's fun. When i play it 4 players you ask? It's chaotic, but fun. Yes there's some character cards that are over powered but it's a game about stacking plastic buildings! Rotate for fresh characters for every rematch and the problem is solved.I love this game. I love building cities. I love boxing other characters in. I love capping another building and seeing my opponent hang their head in misery as they're shut down again! Then again the same feeling is payed back 3 turns later when I'm about to win and the tower is capped.Santorini is just building fun. The 3D presentation makes people interested in this game! Playing this at breweries is always fun because you always get a stranger ask you what the heck you're playing?! It's also easy enough to sit that stranger down and teach them how to play. You'll add their player piece on the board and simply say, "You move and build. You're first. "

This is a creative concept for a game and has some really good gameplay. It's fun how there are different "god" powers that can affect the game or even change how you win (which is a cool game concept). The game says the best way to play is 2 players, but my favorite version is 3 players.Anyway, the only negative I have is that some "god" powers seem more powerful than others or pair really poorly against another. I think they should have made a listing about which ones go best with each other or given a rating of how difficult certain ones are to play.Overall, good game though.