Puerto Rico
About the Game
In 'Puerto Rico', players assume the roles of colonial governors on the island of Puerto Rico. The aim of the game is to amass victory points by shipping goods to Europe or by constructing buildings. Each player uses a separate small board with spaces for city buildings, plantations, and resources. Shared between the players are three ships, a trading house, and a supply of resources and doubloons. The resource cycle of the game is that players grow crops which they exchange for points or doub
Reviews
Puerto Rico
Whenever I play **Puerto Rico**, I’m reminded why it was once the top-ranked game in the world. It has an elegance that many modern games still strive for. On my turn, choosing a role (Builder, Captain, etc.) feels like a weighty decision because I know everyone else will benefit from it too – and that tension is just delicious. I love planning out my little island economy, setting up plantations and constructing buildings to create a productive engine. Each match can unfold differently depending on whether I focus on shipping goods for points or erecting buildings for long-term advantages. There’s virtually no luck, so if I win (or lose) I know it came down to skill and careful planning. Over the years, I’ve also noticed where Puerto Rico shows its age. The components and artwork are drab and not very exciting to look at. More importantly, the colonial theme can be uncomfortable – it glosses over a dark chapter of history, which doesn’t sit right with everyone today. Additionally, experienced players have a big edge; a newbie in a group of veterans might get crushed until they learn the nuances. I aggregated other players’ opinions with an AI and found broad agreement: Puerto Rico is a strategic masterpiece, albeit one with dated presentation and theme issues.
✓ Pros
- • Elegant and deeply strategic gameplay
- • Clever role selection keeps everyone engaged
- • Virtually no luck – skill is rewarded
✗ Cons
- • Drab components and artwork
- • Colonial theme can be uncomfortable
- • Hard on newcomers vs. experienced players
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