Geek Attitude: Burxelles 1897, Board Game, Sequel to Bruxelles 1893, 2 to 4 Players, 45-60 Minute Play Time, For Ages 10 and up

We are very particular about which games we keep around and this one is a keeper! It's one of those multi-faceted strategic games that is actually fun! There are a lot of ways to earn points and many things to remember, so keep the instructions handy at first! That being said, although the setup/ learning the game is somewhat complicated, the game play is simple. It's rated for 14+, but I think it's been given that rating more for attention span, rather than the actual gameplay. I think a mature 10+ year old would still enjoy this. When you are short on time, you can skip one of the 4 rounds and cut off about 15 minutes. We haven't tried less than that, but it might be hard to make enough progress for the game to make sense with less than 3 rounds. The game itself is well-built and designed with class in a fun art-deco theme. It is a fair price with a great entertainment value. I would definitely recommend it.

I gotta say, as affordable card games go...this is pretty good! This one is like an onion. “You mean it stinks!?” No, it has layers. It’s pretty simple overall but It did take a few games to “get it”. I don’t know as it’s dripping with theme but what little there is of it kind of didn’t help. For example, one of your cards (“architect”) starts in jail. Why? Don’t know. Make something up. Then if you have the majority of cards in the Brussels play area, you’ll lose one to the jail again at the end of the round. Why? Don’t know. Make something up. Also, in that same Brussels area, if you play there but someone has already assigned a card to the same spot...you play two. Why? Don’t know. Make something up. The game does suffer from these sort of obscure thematic elements which sort of confused me at first as I was trying to figure out the “why” when I should have just said, “that’s the way it is”. But if you just ignore the “why” of it, the rules are solid and the play mechanics are sound and intriguing. Be warned however, as simple as it is...it can be quite thinky. When you place an architect you have to consider a number of things; - the value of the architect you’re going to use (can you afford it?) - The value of the architect you’re going to use (will playing a higher value guarantee me “majority” in a column?) - Will the architect complete a shield (four corners of four cards make up a shield)? - The action the architect will grant you. Artwork? Building? - The types and quantities of the cards in the “art nouveau” area. Do I need to nab a card quickly because it’s the only one? And then there is the Brussels area where you could put an architect.... Very tricky, involved game. Lots going on. It’s a beast to teach (again, think themeless mechanics with no real answer to “why?” When they ask) but give it one game and you’ll be hooked. At the end of the first play through we were like, “ahhhhhhhh, I’m beginning to get it now...” and evolving with a game like that is a pretty fun process.

We liked the game, played with 2 and 4 players. The game is pretty cool, but not as much fun as I would like. Gameplay is smooth. I wish the art sale was more fun.

It is a great game. It has a learning curve, and as another reviewer alluded to, it is not intuitive as to why the rules are the way they are, but once you master the rules, it is a great game! Maryanne

What a game! This thing packs a punch in a small box. My wife and I have played it a few times now and love how many decisions there are to make. Bruxelles 1897 sees you buying and selling art and architecture, using your influence from others and battling for a spot to gain prestige. This guy is not light... it takes a few games to wrap your head around but the games are super short. 20 to 30 min. Max. But by far my favorite thing about this game is the artwork. Wow the art deco style that bleeds though this whole game is beautiful. Great graphic design with clear and understandable symbols. Your getting a $50 game for $25 that you can throw in your backpack. Why not?

I'm a big time gamer and this one hits the sweet spot of packing into a small box and having a lot of really fun mechanics. Highly recommend! BGG score does not accurately reflect how good it is!

Aun estoy leyendo las reglas y viendo videos para jugarlo con mis amigos pero la calidad de los materiales del juego es muy buena, el arte es divino. Fue una buena compra.

Bruxelles 1897 is a fantastic card game version of Bruxelles 1893. In fact, at lower players counts (2 maybe even 3), I prefer THIS version of the game! It does everything the original game does, but puts in a slim, lean package that can take less then 60 mins! PERFECT!