Old and New

Let’s talk about 🏬Yokohama again! This tactical euro masterpiece was recently re-released in a new version by @jeuxsynapsesgames . This time we added some pictures so you can see a direct comparison. It’s all optical though, the gameplay remains as you might know it - really fun! 😁 Both versions have their charm, but the premium tokens for the new one are especially awesome! (Currently it is not easy to get a hold of, but that should change soon).

What makes the game so good is the action selection. 🧐 You have to keep seeding up the modular map with your Assistant meeples so you can later go there with your President and reap the benefits. The more pieces there are, the stronger the actions, and there is a fair amount of strategy and pre-planning needed as your president’s movement is also restricted in a fun way! It is also important to keep an eye on your opponents’ movements. 🕵️

Some of the map tiles will give you 1 of 4 resource types or coins. You will need these to complete contracts 📃 which give you points and other rewards - with an additional set-collection aspect! In the 🛳️Port you can collect new contracts. 
In the 🔬Laboratory you can acquire technology cards which give you cool ongoing abilities.
The 📦Customs House and the ⛪Church let you claim valuable spots and take part in a majority contest for big points.
Finally, the 🏢Employment Agency unlocks new pieces for you, which is quintessential as you will keep placing Buildings and locking in Assistants to side boards.

💬The modular map also scales nicely with player count, keeping its pyramid shape but growing bigger as you add players. As the layout is always different, and there are different achievements to strive for and technologies to obtain, the replayability is high.

My favorite aspect is the dynamic nature of the game: 😊 Assistants will keep gathering on different city tiles, but are always taken back when you activate the action there, so things fluctuate a lot and you often might need to pivot your plans too. Turns are snappy and thus playtime is also relatively short for this weight level. And of course, fun levels are high. 🥳