The Estates
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.3 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
The Estates is an auction-driven city-building game where players bid for building tiles and place them into three rows of a growing urban development. Completed rows score points for every building in them, while incomplete rows score negative points: so knowing when to finish a row (or sabotage a rival's) is key. A special mansion piece can double the value of one row, adding a layer of high-stakes tension to every auction. It's a fast, cutthroat economic game about timing and nerve as much as bidding skill.
Hobbli's Notes
The Estates packs a surprising amount of tension into a 40-minute auction game, thanks to its clever positive/negative row scoring. Hobbli's team likes how the threat of a row being torn down keeps every bid meaningful and forces players to read the table constantly. It's a great gateway into auction mechanics for groups who want something quick, mean, and replayable.
What we like
- Clever risk of negative scoring keeps every auction tense.
- Fast 40-minute playtime fits easily into a game night.
- Simple rules hide real strategic depth.
- High player interaction through competitive bidding.
Keep in mind
- Auction mechanics can feel harsh to newcomers.
- Player elimination-like swings from incomplete rows can sting.
- Limited long-term strategy beyond reading current bids.
Who it's for
Great for gamers aged 10+ who enjoy quick, tense auction and bidding games, in groups of 2-5.
