Porta Nigra

A Roman city-building Euro where a master builder circling the board decides where you may act.

Designers: Michael Kiesling, Wolfgang Kramer
Published by: eggertspiele
Editions by: Stronghold Games, Pegasus Spiele, Gigamic

Welcome to Augusta Treverorum, today's Trier, the biggest Roman city north of the Alps and home of the mighty Porta Nigra. You play a Roman architect, and your tool is a master builder who walks around a circular track on the board. Where he stands is the only place you may buy or build, so where you move him decides your whole turn. Set collection, drafting, area movement and majority fights all meet on that circle, and moving the master builder farther afield is never free. It is a heavy, thoughtful Euro for two to four, about two hours long, with a setting that actually exists and can still be visited.

Build Roman Trier around a circular trackYour master builder decides where you actSet collection, drafting and majority fights

Who it's for

You enjoy heavy Euros with one clever movement system and an ancient setting, and you have an evening to spare.

Not for you if…

You want something short or light. It is a two-hour thinker, and a bad move of the master builder can cost you a lot.

Vibe's take

Heavy and puzzly. Every move of the master builder opens one door and closes others, so you plan several turns ahead.