The Great Fire of London 1666

Fight the 1666 fire of London as a rich property owner, deciding which districts to save and which to let burn.

Designer: Richard Denning
Published by: Medusa Games
Editions by: Pandasaurus Games, Rebel Sp. z o.o., La Tana dei Goblin, Prime Games

On Sunday, 2 September 1666, the king's baker forgot to put out his hearth fire, and London burned. You play one of the wealthy men who own property across the city, and the Lord Mayor has failed to act. It is up to you to lead trained bands of militia against the flames, which means choosing which districts to protect and which to sacrifice. Since you own part of the city yourself, every choice shapes your own fortune. Action points, hand management and a streak of take-that make this a tense, semi-competitive firefighting game for three to six. Count on two hours of tough, morally grey decisions.

Historic London fire and Thomas Farriner's bakeryChoose which districts to defend or sacrificeAction points, hidden units and take-that

Who it's for

You like historical themes and want a semi-competitive game of tough choices, played with four or five people.

Not for you if…

You dislike take-that moves, or you want a strictly cooperative firefighting game. Self-interest and sabotage are part of it.

Vibe's take

Tense and uneasy. You are cooperating against the flames and scheming against each other at the same time, and every sacrifice has a personal price.