Ground Floor
- Players
- 2-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 150 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.7 / 5
- Year
- 2012
About the game
Ground Floor puts players in charge of a fledgling business, balancing time, money, and staff across worker-placement actions like bartering, hiring, marketing, and shipping. Over the course of the game you convert employee time into information, cash, and results while adapting to shifting economic conditions, ultimately growing your enterprise into a high-rise company. It's a longer, heavier economic simulation aimed at players who enjoy juggling multiple resources and long-term planning. With a 150-minute playtime and high complexity, it rewards patient, systems-minded players.
Hobbli's Notes
Ground Floor is an ambitious, deeply systemic business simulation that rewards patient planning, but its length and downtime mean it's a serious commitment. We think it shines with a dedicated group of economic-game enthusiasts rather than as a casual pickup. Worth the investment if your table enjoys deep resource management.
What we like
- Deep, multi-resource economic simulation rewards long-term planning.
- Wide range of viable business strategies, from marketing to product shipment.
- Thematic worker-placement design ties mechanics closely to the entrepreneurship theme.
- Supports up to 6 players for a full economic showdown.
Keep in mind
- Very high complexity and a long 150-minute playtime make it a major time investment.
- High downtime grade can leave players waiting between turns.
- Steep learning curve may discourage newer gamers.
- Niche economic theme may not appeal to players seeking more direct conflict.
Who it's for
Best for experienced strategy gamers (ideally 4 players) who enjoy deep economic simulations and don't mind a long session with noticeable downtime between turns.
