Rival Cities
A two-player rondel duel where a moment's carelessness ends the game on the spot.
Who it's for
Perfect for two-player game nights when you want a short, sharp duel with real teeth — chess-like tension in a historical wrapper.
Not for you if…
Skip it if you're playing with more than two, or if sudden-death endings that can swing on one move stress you out rather than thrill you.
Vibe's take
Tense and razor-sharp — every action tips a shared tug-of-war, so you're always half-attacking, half-defending, watching for the sudden-death trigger your opponent is quietly setting up.
About this game
Rival Cities pits two players against each other as the rising port town of Altona challenges its powerful neighbor, Hamburg. Using a rondel to manage your actions, you push and pull a shared balance of power while hunting for one of several ways to trigger an instant, sudden-death win. It's a tight, confrontational two-player duel where a single overlooked move can end the game.
Get it
from $22
Mechanics
Categories
By the numbers
Players
Duration
30–45 min
Ages 12+
Complexity
2.5 / 5 — MediumBGG Rating
6.0/10
Rank #3,521
761 ratings
Published
2025
Language
Moderate text
Designed by
Andreas Steding
Published by
Ghenos Games, Deep Print Games, 999 Games, DiceTree Games, Game Harbor, Gigamic, Lucrum Games, Maldito Games, Pegasus Spiele
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