Review
Underwater Cities
Underwater Cities is plainly excellent, and its three-player game has a sharper edge. Four players works perfectly well; three makes every choice bite harder.
- Published
- 2018
- Designer
- Vladimír Suchý
- Publisher
- Delicious Games, Arrakis Games, Atalia
- Players
- 1–4
- Playing time
- 150 min
Underwater Cities is exactly as good as its reputation suggests. No need to dress that up. One play was enough to show how well it holds tension when everyone is watching the same opportunities.
The game turns on its action slots: you choose where to go, then try not to hand somebody else the breathing room they need. You are not simply getting on with your own plan; every choice leaves a mark on the shared board.
At three, that safety net disappears, and the blocking becomes properly sharp: you spot the move another player wants, take it first, and leave them hunting for a substitute.
TheCuttlefish
At four players, duplicate action slots offer an escape route when somebody gets there first. At three, that safety net disappears, and the blocking becomes properly sharp: you spot the move another player wants, take it first, and leave them hunting for a substitute. That is where the game gets its teeth. You will enjoy it.
It does not become poor at four players, but three is where Underwater Cities feels at its toughest and clearest. It is top-tier.
Updated session
The later notes add no further detail about Underwater Cities, so the judgement stands: the preference for three players did not change.
It does not become poor at four players, but three is where Underwater Cities feels at its toughest and clearest.
TheCuttlefish
Source: BoardGameGeek
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