SANTORINI
Hey there! Have you heard of Santorini? It’s an awesome abstract board game that anyone can play, and it’s perfect for 2 to 4 players. The objective of the game is pretty simple: be the first player to place one of your worker pieces on a level three building. Sounds cool, right?
Okay, let me explain how it works. Santorini is like a 3D version of Tic-Tac-Toe, but with a twist. You’ll be competing against your opponents and doing everything you can to stop them from reaching the goal. It’s all about strategy, quick thinking, and outsmarting your opponents. The game is designed to be played with two players, but you can have up to four players join in on the fun.
SETUP
Now, before you start playing, there’s a little bit of setup involved. First, you’ll need to assemble the game board by following the diagrams in the rulebook. Trust me, it’s super easy and won’t take long at all. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also use god cards in the game. But here’s the thing: when playing with two players, using god powers is optional. However, if you have three or four players, you’ll definitely want to include the god cards because they’re mandatory. They add a whole new level of strategy and excitement to the game!
So, here’s the deal: to get this game started, we need to choose a player to be the challenger. This person gets to pick some awesome gods from a group of 30 options (just make sure the gods match the number of players). Once the challenger has picked the gods, they’ll read the names and abilities of each god power from the rulebook.
Now, it’s time for the rest of us to get in on the action. Starting with the person next to the challenger and going clockwise, each player will choose a god power to use in the game. Some powers might require a little extra setup, but don’t worry, the card will spell it out for you. If there are multiple setup cards, just follow the turn order and do them one by one.
Once all the god powers are chosen, the challenger gets to pick who goes first. That lucky person will place their two colored workers on the game board wherever they like. Then we all take turns going clockwise, placing our own workers. Just remember, you can’t put your workers on a space that’s already occupied.
If we’re not using god powers, the youngest player goes first. But everything else stays the same.
GAMEPLAY
Here’s how the game works when there are two players. The rules for 3 and 4-player games will come later.
Now, let’s get started! The player who goes first can take their first turn. Each turn, you can choose a piece to move and build with. But don’t forget, you have to move and build on your turn — otherwise, you lose the game!
When you move a piece, you can move it to any of the eight surrounding squares. But there are some rules to follow. First, the space you want to move to must be empty. If you’re moving upwards, you can only go up one level. But if you’re moving downwards, you can go down as many levels as you want. One important thing to remember is that you can’t move onto a dome space. Avoid those!
When I move my worker, I have the power to build. But it’s not just a simple build – I can choose from eight different spaces surrounding my worker. I have the option to construct a level piece or even a dome. But there’s a catch – I can only place a dome on a tower that’s already at the third level. Once the dome is added, the tower is considered complete and cannot be altered. It’s a strategic decision that can make or break my game.
Now, if I have a God power card, the rules might be different. The card will provide specific instructions that might contradict the standard rules. In that case, I always have to follow the guidelines mentioned on the card. Failure to adhere to the God power rules will result in an automatic loss. So, I have to tread carefully and make sure I understand and properly execute the God power.
3 and 4-Player Games
The rules mentioned above remain the same for 3 and 4 player games. However, there are a few additional rules that come into play in these games.
In a 3-player game, when a player loses, they have to remove all their workers, their god card, and any tokens from the board. The game continues until only one player remains. The last player standing is declared the winner.
When playing a game with four players, we divide into teams of two. Each team sits across from each other, and every player has their own special ability. Although we can’t share our abilities with our partners, we can share our workers and even use the same one that our partner used last. When we’re getting ready to play, one of us sets up the game pieces while the other player gets to go first. If one of us loses, our whole team loses, and the same goes for winning.
THE END OF THE GAME
The game comes to an end in two ways. First, if a player manages to move one of their pieces onto a tower that is three levels high, they automatically win the game. Second, if all the other players are eliminated and only one player or team remains, they become the winners.
Hi, my name is Amber (They/Them)! I’m a writer from Austin who loves playing games. I’m a self-proclaimed gaming master who also has a soft spot for dogs, plants, and D&D.