Teotihuacan: City of Gods

What it is

Daniele Tascini's game set in the ancient city in present day Mexico. Your workers are dice that gain strength as they move around the board, and when one goes past five pips it ascends and starts again at one. Over three eras you research, climb temples, build houses and raise the Pyramid of the Sun. Cocoa feeds the workers, and the game never lets you forget it.

What we love

• After each move you choose what to do there: collect cocoa, worship where the board allows it, or take the main action.
• Ascension pays a large one time bonus and also pushes the Eclipse clock.
• The pyramid rises in the middle of the board as players add to it.

Honest trade-offs

• One reviewer found it best at four and less fun at two.
• The rulebook is dense, though the game teaches faster than it reads.
• Worship spaces and ascending workers are part of the setting. It is not a ritual game, but families may want to know.

AI summary of player sentiment

Content advisory

No content advisory.