Smartphone Inc.
- Players
- 1-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.8 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
Smartphone Inc. puts players in charge of a smartphone manufacturer racing to dominate a nascent global market. Over five rounds, players simultaneously plan pricing, production, research, and expansion by physically overlaying patch cards and development tiles, creating a unique layered-planning puzzle. Success depends on undercutting competitors' prices, expanding your office network into new regions, and researching technology that unlocks new selling power. It's a dense economic simulation euro that rewards careful long-term planning and reading your opponents' strategies.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team rates Smartphone Inc. as one of the most inventive economic simulations in recent years thanks to its clever card-overlay planning system, which makes each round's hidden decisions feel genuinely strategic. It's a heavy, cerebral game best suited to dedicated euro-gamers who enjoy pricing and market dynamics.
What we like
- Innovative card-overlay planning mechanic.
- Deep economic simulation with genuine market dynamics.
- Solo mode supported for single-player play.
- High replayability from variable setup and strategies.
Keep in mind
- Long 90-minute playtime with steep complexity.
- Significant rules overhead for new players.
- Can suffer from analysis paralysis during planning phases.
Who it's for
Best for 1-5 experienced strategy gamers aged 14+ who enjoy economic simulation euros with heavy planning and market competition.
