The Godfather: Corleone's Empire

The Godfather: Corleone's Empire is a game that surprised me. I'll admit, I wasn't initially drawn to it. I'm a big fan of the Godfather movies, but I wasn't sure how well the theme would translate to a board game. Plus, I'm not always a fan of Eric Lang's games. However, after reading some positive reviews, I decided to give it a shot, and I'm glad I did.

This game is a streamlined worker placement game, and it's incredibly well-designed. It's got everything you'd expect from a game with a mafia theme: area control, set collection, and even drive-by shootings! But what surprised me most was how elegant and smooth the gameplay is. Everything feels perfectly balanced, and the game is surprisingly deep despite its simplicity.

I especially love the way the game handles money. You have to show your opponents what bills you're stashing in your tin can, which adds a lot of tension to the bidding phase. And the fact that you can't always exchange bills for the exact amount you need adds another layer of complexity to hand management.

The components are also top-notch. The miniatures are fantastic, and the metal suitcases are a really cool touch. I'm a sucker for thematic components, and these definitely make the game feel special.

All in all, I'm really impressed with The Godfather: Corleone's Empire. It's a fun, strategic, and surprisingly elegant game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who enjoys worker placement games. It's not a perfect simulation of the Godfather movies, but it captures the spirit of the mafia world in a way that's both engaging and entertaining.