La Habana
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2009
About the game
La Habana (Havana) tasks players with constructing buildings around the table to earn victory points, paying for them with combinations of money, workers, and materials. Only buildings on the outer edges of two rows are available to claim, so timing and positioning matter as much as resources. Each player uses an identical 13-card deck, but only two cards are played per round, and the numeric combination of those cards determines turn order in an ever-shifting fashion. Some roles let you tax or steal from opponents, adding a layer of light conflict to this compact card and building game.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team likes how La Habana squeezes a surprising amount of tactical depth into a relatively short, card-driven package. The shifting turn order based on card combinations creates a clever puzzle of predicting what your opponents will play. It's shorter and lighter than many similar building games while still offering meaningful decisions each round. We think it's a solid pick for groups wanting a compact building game with some bluffing and memory elements.
What we like
- Clever turn-order mechanic based on played card combinations.
- Shorter and lighter than comparable building games.
- Light conflict through taxing and stealing roles adds interaction.
- Identical player decks keep the game balanced.
Keep in mind
- Some information available on this title is limited, making deep strategy comparisons uncertain.
- Turn order unpredictability may frustrate planning-focused players.
- Building selection can feel restrictive with only edge tiles available.
Who it's for
Suited to gamers aged 10+ who enjoy set collection and light bluffing/memory mechanics in groups of 2-4.
