Council of 4
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 75 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.7 / 5
- Year
- 2015
About the game
Council of 4 casts players as merchants seeking permits to build emporiums across three kingdoms, each governed by a council of noble families. Corrupting councils earns permit cards, while playing them lets you build connected emporiums that trigger chain benefits and unlock the Emperor's favor. With an eight-configuration modular board and multiple viable scoring paths, this Tascini/Luciani design rewards route-building and hand management. Every game offers a fresh layout and new strategic puzzles.
Hobbli's Notes
A clever, underrated Euro from the Tascini/Luciani duo: the modular board and chained emporium bonuses give it real replay value. It asks a bit of patience to learn, and downtime can build up, but the payoff is a satisfying network-building puzzle.
What we like
- Modular board offers eight configurations for real variety.
- Clever council-corruption mechanic drives permit acquisition.
- Chained emporium bonuses reward smart network building.
- Multiple viable paths to victory points.
Keep in mind
- Downtime can build up between player turns.
- Rules have some fiddly bookkeeping to track.
- Dry economic theme with limited narrative hook.
Who it's for
Euro strategy gamers who enjoy medium-heavy network building, best with 2-4 players.
