The quirky city is under construction again, but the architects and engineers have changed things up with this newest stand-alone game variation! Machi Koro 2 is a dice rolling, city-building game for 2-5 clever and quick-thinking players, ages 10+.
To begin the game, sort the cards into the three types of cards. Place 5 unique cards in a row next to each stack for all players to see and access.
Each ESTABLISHMENT card includes a variety of information:
- Category Icon
- Activation Numbers (dice roll)
- Establishment Name
- Building Cost
- Effect
LANDMARK cards have slightly different info:
- Category Icon
- Landmark Name
- Build Cost
- Effect
- Effect Timing
Players take turns rolling the dice and earning income. The great thing about this game is that EVERYONE gets to play on every turn, not just their own.
The dice roll determines which cards in each player’s cities are activated. Different types of establishments earn income in different ways and activate in a specific order.
- BLUE: Primary Industries –> Activates on everyone’s turn
- GREEN: Secondary Industries –> Activates on active player’s turn only
- RED: Restaurants –> Activates on opponents’ turns only
- PURPLE: Major Establishments –> Activates on active player’s turn only
Depending on the establishments in your city, you may get to activate several cards on a turn and income from your cards or other player’s cards.
Only the active player can build new establishments on his/her turn by paying the building cost and choosing a card from the supply and adding it to their city. Theoretically, players are able to build new establishments each turn and expand the probability of earning more income with each roll of the dice.
The ultimate goal of the game is to build Landmarks, which are quite expensive compared to the other establishments in the game. Each Landmark has a special effect that either takes place immediately or is ongoing throughout the game. Players have to strategically select and purchase establishments to earn enough income to purchase a Landmark, but there’s a catch! There’s always a catch…
Some establishments, the Red Restaurant cards, allow other players to take your money! You did eat at the restaurant… but some dice rolls earn you money and some rolls take it! Players have to be very strategic and quick. Don’t hold on to your money too long, you just might spend it impulsively!
As soon as one player builds a third landmark, the game ends immediately and that player is the winner!
Machi Koro 2 is a great way for students to practice arithmetic skills, problem solving, number sense/fluency, reasoning, probability, and also some economics principles like opportunity cost and supply/demand. This educational game would fit in well to a variety of unit studies and can make learning math and exploring other skills so much fun! Learning through play is a motivating and wonderful way to learn!
Thanks to Pandasaurus Games for sharing with us!
