San Juan

Item: San Juan
Rating: 64
Author: Board Game Tavern

Overall rankJoint#259 of 353

Puerto Rico as a card game, where your hand is both your money and your city.

Game rating: 64/100
Players: 2–4
Play time: 60min
Age: 10+

Buy the game

Our review

A card game spun off from Puerto Rico and named after its capital. Each turn a player picks a role, everyone gets that action, and the chooser gets a bonus, such as a discount for picking Builder. Every card is a building, and cards in hand are also the money you pay with. A tidy option for 2 to 4 people who like tough little choices.

About the game

Puerto Rico as a card game, where your hand is both your money and your city.

Rating breakdown

Fun Factor: 18/25; How engaging and enjoyable the game is.
Gameplay Depth: 11/25; Meaningful choices, replayability, and room to improve.
Ease of Use: 20/25; How easy it is to learn the rules and get started.
Craftsmanship: 15/25; Component quality, artwork, and production finish.

What works

Paying for a building means giving up other cards you might have built.
Violet buildings each have a special ability, while production buildings make goods.
The 2014 second edition adds the Treasure Chest buildings and a new card, The Hut.