Aquädukt

Build houses, then race to bring them water through canals before the neighbourhood closes, with a d20 adding chaos.

Designer: Bernhard Weber
Published by: Schmidt Spiele
Editions by: Überplay

Building houses is easy. Getting water to them is the problem. In Aquädukt (2005) you settle a landscape in the Roman manner, but the houses are worthless unless water reaches them before the neighbourhood is completely built up. Otherwise the inhabitants move out and the house earns no victory points. You lay building tiles in four colours, with one to four houses each, then place wells and canals at the right time while a d20 and a bit of dice luck keep things honest. The board has mountains and glass springs, and the tension is in timing. Two to four players, about half an hour.

Houses score only with waterWooden canals and glass springsA d20 adds dice luck

Who it's for

You like tile-laying with a clear risk-and-timing puzzle and want something short for up to four.

Not for you if…

You want no luck at all. The die can spoil a careful plan.

Vibe's take

Tactical and a little cheeky. You build, hold your breath and hope the canal reaches home in time, and rivals can cut you off at the last moment.