Name: Power Grid by Friedemann Friese
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Players: 2-6
Ages: 12+
Playing Time: 2 hours
Download Rules
Power Grid is a game firmly based on economics. If you have a love for numbers and planning ahead, then look no further. My husband and I purchased this game for Christmas because we were so pleased with the previous Rio Grande games we had played so far. Power Grid exceeded our expectations in both quality and depth.
The game is all about making money--lots of money--with electric power. How many cities can you supply power to? What are the best connection routes between cities? What power plants will you need and what raw materials will be best to acquire? Will they be sustainable? Power Grid is all about economics. So you want to power your cities with coal? You’d better watch out, because if everyone else does too, it will drive up the price! This game is fiercely competitive and mathematical. You don’t have to be a total nerd to enjoy it, but it certainly takes some thinking and concentration. I have been known to write all my purchasing calculations on a piece of paper to keep track of them all. The richer you are, the more money you need to manage!
If you want to play Power Grid, be prepared to dedicate a fair amount of time learning the rules. Although it is not as complex as some games (i.e. Race for the Galaxy or Axis & Allies), it has a fair amount of complexity. You should also be prepared for a longer game, as the full game can take more than 2 hours, even with just 2 players! Fortunately, there is a shorter version of the game, which takes about 45 minutes. This version is perfect for first-time players, or to fit a quick game into your day.
Power Grid has a lot of variety to offer. Each game is played on a different land mass in Europe or the United States, or even more countries with the expansion sets. This allows for variety in city connection strategies. The power plants themselves are quite diverse, ranging from nuclear to coal-powered plants. There are even solar-powered plants! The balance of resources each player chooses to fund their plants can make for very different games. For example, in some games, “green” plants are very popular, leaving resources like coal and oil dirt cheap. Other times, the resources that are usually cheapest (i.e. coal and oil) end up being the most expensive due to excessive demand. Your strategy must be flexible enough to take advantage of these unique situations.
Being a business major, I loved the economic principles at work in Power Grid. I would recommend the game to anyone who enjoys a strategic challenge. It may not be the best game for a party or social gathering, due to the length and complexity, but among people who enjoy mentally stimulating games, this is likely to be a great success. Get ready to power up!
