The artwork in Happy City is as cheery and whimsical as you would want. Think: the morning after the Tooth Fairy has visited for a comparable happy feeling! It appealed to all of us and has provided bursts of fun when time at the table is limited, it’s a great little family time filler. Happy City is a game the whole family can play and be competitive doing so. Turns go round fairly quickly due to the limited choice of cards, so downtime is occasional. The game scales well from two to five players. This is much more a radiant race to ten cards, while balancing the points along the way. The name suggests this isn’t going to be cut-throat and it isn’t misleading. There isn’t a lot of player interaction, other than keeping an eye out for an opponent working too obviously towards a Special Card. The game time reflects this lighter strategy too and it is never a game that outstays its welcome. This is provided from the limited choice, the set collection towards special cards and the balance of people and hearts in the city. While it is very light, there is enough to entertain. If this all sounds simple, it’s because it is. Your turn involves revealing a card or two in the market and deciding whether to buy one or not. Happy City is a delight to pick up and play. If you use the expert variation this type of building has further objectives or ongoing benefits. Only one Special Building is allowed in a player’s city. Special Buildings can be obtained at the end of your turn if you have the required types of buildings in your city to develop them. You could also choose not to take a card and instead gain a coin instead. Alternatively you can buy one of the Dwelling cards on your turn if they are still available. Once there are three available you can buy one, funds permitting.

You can also choose to discard one of the cards available, and replace it too. If an opponent took a card on their turn, you can replace this from any of the three draw decks. There will only ever be three cards available in the market for you to buy on your turn. You can never buy two buildings of the same name. Your income will grow over the course of the game allowing you to buy nicer things for your city.

All other players get a turn until it gets back to the first player, thus ending the round and the game.Īt the start of your turn you gain income, this will be the total value of coins listed on your buildings, at the start of the game the Happy Market grants you one coin as indicated in the symbol in the bottom left.

The game ends when any player places their tenth card in their city. Your happiness score will be determined at the end of the game by multiplying the number of people (indicated by green pawn icons) by the number of hearts (you can probably guess the icon!) that you have in your city. The aim of the game is to have the happiest city.

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