Scarface 1920
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 150 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.8 / 5
- Year
- 2023
About the game
Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, Scarface 1920 puts you in charge of a mob family fighting for control of the city's rackets. You'll recruit associates, run bootlegging operations, and bribe officials while expanding your gang's turf across a shifting board. The game blends worker placement with deck and bag building, so every decision about who to hire and where to place your crew matters. Each gang boss brings a distinct set of powers, ensuring different games favor different strategies. With federal agents closing in, players must balance expansion with survival in this tense turf war.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team loves how Scarface 1920 marries two heavy mechanisms, worker placement and deck-building, into a single coherent engine rather than bolting them together awkwardly. The mafia theme is more than window dressing; the tension of expanding into contested turf while the Feds circle genuinely comes through. It's a demanding, lengthy game that rewards players who enjoy planning several turns ahead. We do think the rules overhead will be a lot for anyone who isn't already comfortable with heavy Euro design.
What we like
- Distinct gang bosses give each game genuine asymmetric strategies.
- Combines worker placement and deck/bag building into one satisfying engine.
- Solo mode offers a full experience for single players.
- High replayability thanks to multiple viable paths to victory.
Keep in mind
- Long 150-minute playtime demands a serious time commitment.
- Heavy rules overhead can overwhelm newcomers to Euro-style games.
- High commitment grade means it's not a casual pick-up-and-play title.
Who it's for
Best suited to experienced gamers aged 14+ who enjoy heavy strategy games with meaty rules, in groups of 2-4 (or solo).
