Kids are builders. It’s just in their busy, curious blood, and I think this is why they love games like Tiny Towns, a game for 1-6 players ages 10+ (box says 14 but I play with my kids ages 6-13 just fine) in about 45 minutes.
The goal of Tiny Towns is to build a city with a variety of buildings, all of which give you benefits or points. Some work together with other buildings, some can’t be build adjacently…
The resource cards chosen in the set up phase tell what unique arrangement of resource cubes are required and the ability or point value of each.
The Master Builder (first player in the round) names a material that everyone has to take and place somewhere in their city. Sometimes it’s just what you need, and other times it’s exactly what you don’t. Either way, every player MUST take that resource and place it somewhere in their city.
Each square can only have a single resource or building, and unless a player has a special ability from their Monument card, buildings/resource cubes cannot be moved once played.
Each player also receives a Monument card at the beginning of the game, which has a completely unique arrangement of resource cubes required to build the Monument, and it also has a special ability. Monument cards are essential to winning the game! Choose wisely and build carefully. :)
This game can actually be really difficult (in a fantastic, puzzl-y/tetris kind of way). You have to plan what you want to build, depending on your monument card and strategy, and hope that other players choose the resource cubes you need! If not, flexibility is paramount. An unwanted cube can usually be used with a bit of strategic thinking.
This is a fantastic GAMESCHOOL game and helps kids develop abstract/logical/strategic thinking, problem solving, visual/spacial reasoning, and so much more. It’s one of our favorite quick games to play on a chilly afternoon indoors, after morning schoolwork and lunch, when we’re ready to just have fun together.
Thanks to AEG for sharing Tiny Towns with us!
