The Godfather: Corleone's Empire

I came to The Godfather: Corleone's Empire with my guard up: Lang, CMON, miniatures, the whole package that normally has me looking for a polite escape route. And yet, there is a game here. Not merely a handsome thing spread across the table, but a brisk, thematic affair that makes you want to get your business done and ruin the business next to you.

This is straight area control, and it does not outstay its welcome. You spread into districts, keep track of who holds what, and try not to hand the others an opening; the pace stays sharp, with none of the unnecessary pauses that make a short game feel long.

Then comes the good bit: take-that and interaction in the right measure. You are not playing alongside the others. You are playing on top of them, disrupting plans, leaning on positions, and forcing responses, without turning the whole thing into an exhausting brawl. Step into someone’s district and they will learn your name.

It is not earth-shattering, and it does not pretend to be. It is, however, a crisp eight-out-of-ten sort of game, with real substance and a theme that suits its aggression beautifully. With the right group, especially when you want something short with teeth, it rises to the occasion with very little fuss. Take the cannoli.

Updated session

The later five-player game confirmed the first impression. Nothing about the design changed, but the larger group made the pressure over districts and the blows between players more immediate. It remains particularly good when it arrives at the right moment.