Overview:

Name: Mombasa

BGG Weight: 3.90 / 5

Year Published: 2015

Publisher: R&R Games

Designer: Alexander Pfister

Number of Players: 2-4

Playing Time: 75-150 minutes

Game Category/Theme: Economic, Exploration

Mechanics: Action Queue, Area Majority / Influence, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Hand Management, Investment

 

Ratings:

Strategy: 9.2

Complexity: 8.5

Player Interaction: 8.7

Replayability: 9.1

Game Rating: 9.0

Cost: 6.5

 

Calculations:

Weight Rating: (8.5 + 9.2) = 17.7

Playability Rating: [(9.1 + 8.7 + 9.0) – 8.5] = 18.3

Play Rating Score: (17.7 + 18.3) x 2 = 72

Value Rating: 72 / 6.5 = 11.08

 

Final Score Rating: 72 + 11.08 = 83.08

 

Review:

Mombasa is an economic strategy game where players compete to grow their trading companies in 18th century Africa. The game features a unique combination of mechanics, including deck/pool building, hand management, and worker placement. Players must manage their hand of cards, place their workers strategically to gain resources, acquire and trade goods, and invest in the stocks of the four available trading companies. The game is won by the player with the most money at the end of the game, which is determined by the value of their stock holdings and the value of their goods.

Mombasa is a great game for players who enjoy deep, strategic gameplay. The combination of mechanics offers a unique experience that requires careful planning and decision-making. The game also offers high replayability, as the available strategies change with each playthrough. However, the game can be quite complex, and it may take some time for new players to fully understand the rules and mechanics.

Mombasa does not offer a solo or cooperative play option, and it is best played with a group of 3 or 4 players.

 

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