WORLD’S FAIR 1893
Showcasing the classic Euro of yesteryear
Designer: J. Alex Kevern | Publisher: Renegade Game Studios
While the game’s title refers back to 1893, whilst playing you’re more likely to be reminded of the 1990s than the 1890s; the decade in which German Eurogames began to take the familiar shape we still see today, with the release of classics such as El Grande, Tigris, Tikal, and of course Settlers of Catan.
Don’t see that as a criticism; World’s Fair 1893 is an elegant and intelligent design that has a lot going for it.
Miraculously by today’s standards, it sticks to the alleged 40-minute play time advertised on the box. The 10-years-plus age range also feels about right, while it’s refreshing to find a game that isn’t scared to be for twoto-four players. This is a classic familylevel Eurogame in every sense.
On each turn you’ll be collecting one-to-four cards from one of five areas on the main board. The cards are randomly drawn and placed, but where you take them from is significant. As you take cards, you leave a cube of your colour in that area. Three times during the game, a scoring occurs. When they do, majorities in these areas are important if you have cards matching the area’s colour. It’s a lovely passive battle-for-majority and it works beautifully.
Some cards are simply for set collection, matching the colours of the five areas. Others act as a game timer while also being worth points. The rest give you an action in the next round that either lets you play more cubes or manipulate those that have already been placed. Set scoring happens at the end of the game, with scores tending to be close and hard to predict.
We found World’s Fair 1893 scaled well between three and four players, but as with many majorities games it becomes a little zero-sum with just two. Despite the fact you could’ve themed this as space gerbils, zombie daffodils, or named it after A.N.Other European city, the game is sumptuously produced without being over the top. The central Ferris Wheel fittingly acts as the game timer, while the board sections are bright and colourful. There’s a surprising amount of unique art on the cards, which is superfluous but welcome, as it also contains many interesting titbits about the fair itself. None of this draws you into the theme at all, but it is fun to read the trivia. But again refreshingly, the game has a fair price point and comes in the right-sized (Carcassonnestyle) box for what you get inside.
But this is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a largely dry Eurogame experience. All information is visible throughout and there are no hidden scoring goals, so the variability largely comes in the card draw and from your fellow players’ moves. As you’re all trying to score in the same way, and you can always see your opponents’ positions, it can sometimes feel as if it is on rails. Sure, you have five places to take cards from and will be looking to seal certain majorities in areas you match cards with. But if one area has a single card and another four, you’re unlikely to do anything but take the larger number of cards. It’s a case of knowing your group. This is a fastplaying family Eurogame that plays a lot beiger than its bright colours suggest. Great with the right crowd, but torturous with others.
It should also be noted that this is a reprint of the original 2016 release of the same name. Whilst getting good reviews and a few award nominations, the original took some criticism for failing to address the problematic underlying politics of the age it celebrates. It wasn’t long after the abolition of slavery, and black men and women were far from equals in the United States. So, credit to Renegade for addressing this in the reprint’s rulebook, dedicating a half-page history lesson written by historical consultant Jade R.
Rogers, while also dedicating cards to celebrated black American activists of the time, including Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass.
CHRIS MARLING
WE SAY
If you have a euro-centric group this is a worthwhile trip to the fair.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
◗90 Wooden pieces
◗132 Cardboard chits
◗99 Cards
◗ Central board, made of seven pieces
TRY THIS IF YOU LIKED ARKADIA…
This would go down a treat with any players who love the low adrenaline people-puzzle of classic Euros.