Zena 1814

Players take the role of rival Genoese families during the eight months of the city’s brief independence in 1814. Each round, players move pawns across city areas and play cards from hands tied to those areas; cards provide commercial, military and prestige effects. Cards include influence spaces that allow others to place cubes on them, creating direct interaction as opponents decide whether to participate in a played venture. The card owner must contribute when playing, while participants gain the card’s effect and give the owner a smaller one-time bonus, balancing cooperation and competition. Players pursue prestige through successful joint ventures, military actions and strategic placement of influence; highest prestige wins.

Players: 2–5 best 4
Playing time: 45–90 min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 2.9 / 5