Tabannusi: Builders of Ur Review

I've always been fascinated by ancient civilizations, and Tabannusi: Builders of Ur immediately caught my eye with its promise of building the Great City of Ur. The components are beautiful - the board is stunning with its depiction of the city and the dice are colorful and well-made. The game itself is a clever blend of resource management and strategic decision-making.

The core mechanic of activating districts using dice is simple to understand but has a surprising amount of depth. You constantly have to weigh the immediate benefits of taking a die against the strategic value of securing a district for the next turn. I especially enjoyed the tension of trying to get the right die while keeping an eye on the depletion of dice in each district, knowing that scoring rounds are triggered when a district is emptied.

The game also offers a nice variety of actions, including building, expanding your influence, and acquiring ships. This gives you a lot of flexibility in your approach, and there's a satisfying sense of accomplishment when you manage to pull off a well-timed combo.

The scoring system is well-designed, rewarding both efficient building and strategic temple management. The port district also adds a layer of complexity with its unique ships and scoring opportunities. Overall, I found Tabannusi to be a balanced and engaging game with a good amount of replayability.

However, it's not without its flaws. Some might find the game a bit dry, as there's not much in the way of player interaction beyond vying for the same resources. The scoring rounds can feel a bit chaotic, especially towards the end of the game.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Tabannusi: Builders of Ur is a solid game that I highly recommend for fans of engine-building and strategic resource management. If you're looking for a beautiful and engaging game set in ancient Mesopotamia, look no further.