Pan Am
- 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.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.4 / 5
- Year
- 2020
About the game
Pan Am puts players in charge of an air-travel empire competing alongside the real Pan American Airways during the mid-20th century. Players bid for landing rights, buy longer-range planes to reach new destinations, and use insider connections to grow their route network. Routes can be sold back to Pan Am for profit, letting you reinvest in stock, planes, or new growth. The game spans four decades of aviation history and historic events that shake up the board as you play.
Hobbli's Notes
Pan Am does a nice job of layering an accessible worker-placement-and-bidding structure over real aviation history, and the historic event cards give each playthrough a different rhythm. It's a solid mid-weight pick for groups that like an economic theme without a marathon rulebook.
What we like
- Engaging historical aviation theme spanning decades of real events.
- Multiple viable strategies between routes, stock, and reinvestment.
- Accessible auction and worker-placement mechanics for its depth.
- Attractive production values fitting the golden-age travel theme.
Keep in mind
- Random event cards can introduce swingy luck into the plan.
- Player interaction is mostly indirect through bidding.
- May feel dry to players uninterested in the historical theme.
Who it's for
Good for ages 12+ who enjoy economic and route-building games with light history theming, in groups of 2-4.
