China
- Players
- 3-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.3 / 5
- Year
- 2005
About the game
China is an elegant area-majority game where three to five players place houses and emissaries across nine regions using hand-managed cards. When all house spaces in a region fill, or at game's end, players score for majorities there, and emissary majorities in adjacent regions add further points. Building an uninterrupted chain of four or more houses along a road scores bonus points too. It's a refined reimplementation of Michael Schacht's earlier Web of Power.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editors appreciate how much strategic tension this game packs into such simple rules. The area-majority scoring creates constant tough decisions about where to commit limited cards. It's abstract in theme, but the tight 45-minute runtime keeps things moving briskly. A great choice for euro-gamers who like lean, clever design.
What we like
- Elegant area-majority mechanics with simple, clean rules.
- Quick 45-minute playtime keeps sessions tight.
- Meaningful tactical decisions arise nearly every turn.
- Refined reimplementation of the acclaimed Web of Power.
Keep in mind
- Abstract theme lacks strong narrative pull.
- Can produce analysis paralysis around majority scoring.
- Player interaction is limited mostly to area contests.
Who it's for
Good for groups of three to five who enjoy area-majority euro games, from families comfortable with strategy to dedicated euro gamers.
