Palazzo What

It had been a while since the last time, but this weekend I got to play the game Palazzo again. It's a kind of a "medium-thinky" strategy game from German designer Reiner Knizia (and #2 in Alea games "medium box" series).

In the game, you acquire tiles that represent different floors of multi-story buildings. Each level has one to three windows, and can be made from one of three materials. They also are numbered by which level of the building they are, and as you acquire tiles and construct them, you're allowed to skip numbers, but must still build upward in ascending order. Your goal is to build the best buildings you can; higher points are awarded for being taller, having more windows, and being built of the same material throughout.

It's fairly straight-forward, though the way you acquire tiles gives the game its best dynamics. It's an interesting mix of auction and purchasing that makes you manage money of three different colors. Luck can play a role in it, but there's enough room for interesting strategic maneuvering.

I've enjoyed the game in the past, and this recent play was no exception. Still, at the same time, I think there's a reason it doesn't come to the game table more frequently. I personally just prefer my games to be a little more involved, a little more demanding. Palazzo is clever in places, but ultimately not very deep, nor are there really any different strategies to pursue in re-plays.

It's a good game if you're looking for something quick and not overly deep. In fact, it might well be a decent "gateway" game to bring new people into the whole German board game thing. It's not the best of that Alea "medium box" series, but it's also not the worst. It is overall a pretty good option for a simple...ish half hour game.