Lost Cities
- Players
- 2
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 30 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.5 / 5
- Year
- 1999
About the game
Lost Cities is a classic two-player card game of archaeological expeditions across five (or six) colored suits. On your turn you play an ascending-value card onto one of your expeditions or discard it, then draw a replacement, all while weighing the risk that each expedition starts at -20 points until enough high cards are invested. Special handshake cards multiply an expedition's final value, adding a push-your-luck edge to every decision. A full game consists of three quick matches, with points totaled across all three.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli regards this as an essential Knizia design and one of the best two-player card games ever made - thirty minutes of tight, elegant tension that never gets old. It remains a go-to recommendation for date nights, travel, and anyone new to two-player card games.
What we like
- Quick and portable thirty-minute playtime.
- Elegant push-your-luck tension with simple rules.
- Timeless replayability decades after release.
- Appeals to both new and experienced gamers.
Keep in mind
- Strictly limited to two players.
- Limited player interaction beyond shared discard piles.
- Simplicity may not satisfy heavier strategy gamers.
Who it's for
Two-player gamers of all experience levels aged 8+, ideal for date nights and travel.
