Happy City

Game 2 of our “Fantastically Festive Christmas School Holidays 2023 Marathon” is “Happy City.“

“Happy City” is a delightful and brisk set collection game that Jack(.8.) Toby(5) and I thoroughly enjoyed.

To begin the game, you lay out a grid featuring three piles of cards, each containing holdings of different values. At the bottom, there are five special buildings, while the top showcases dwelling cards, essentially serving as basic buildings.

Every player starts with a ‘Happy Market,’ generating one coin per turn and providing nine additional spaces to construct your city.

At the start of each turn, players earn coins during an income phase before progressing to the action phase. During this turn, they can discard one building and draw up to three from any of the decks.

Buildings can be purchased with owned coins and added to your city. Each building is associated with a colour, crucial for activating special buildings that offer unique bonuses.

Beyond potentially increasing your income, each building comes with inhabitants and/or hearts. When a player accumulates 10 buildings, the game concludes at the end of the next round, and the final score is determined by multiplying the number of inhabitants by the hearts.

The box contains two versions: a family version and an expert version. The latter features starting markets with colours aiding in obtaining special buildings, and the special buildings have slightly more complex powers, enhancing strategic depth.

“Happy City” is quick but enjoyable. Despite its seemingly simple premise, fitting everything into a tight ten-card limit proves surprisingly challenging. Initially tempted to buy everything, players quickly realise the importance of being selective, given how rapidly the 10 spaces fill up.

The production values are satisfactory; the cards are of reasonable stock, though a bit shiny, and the tokens are acceptable. However, a deluxe version with better-quality cards and metal coins would be a welcome addition.

As one of my preferred set collection games, I highly recommend “Happy City.” It’s a bonus when a game offers both family-friendly and advanced rules, allowing it to grow with the players. Toby comprehended the game well, and both boys were eager for a rematch – top-notch stuff.