Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Perfect for those who love strategic Euros but want something faster than a massive board. The Art Nouveau theme is stunning!
Highlights
- Smart worker placement mechanics
- Compact and practical format
- Strategic depth is preserved
- Elegant and immersive visuals
Keep in mind
- Initial learning curve
- Requires focus on majority rules
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Get ready to travel back in time and dive into the vibrancy of Brussels in 1897! The setting is the World's Fair, where the Art Nouveau style is turning the city into an open-air gallery. Your goal? To cement your name in the history of art. To achieve this, you'll need an artistic eye and diplomacy: construct stunning buildings, create and sell artworks, and, of course, network with the local nobility to secure your prestige.
Bruxelles 1897 is essentially a compact and clever version of the original Bruxelles 1893. The brilliant part is that the strategic depth of the original board game has been preserved, while the mechanics were streamlined for a smoother experience. The game unfolds over 4 rounds, where managing your Architects is the key to success. Each player starts with 5 Architect cards (valued from 1 to 5), which act as your 'workers'.
Actions are split between two main areas. In the Art Nouveau area, you replace action cards with your Architects, paying the card's value to execute the task. In the Brussels area, actions are free, but they require an increasing number of Architects to activate — and be careful: if you're too ambitious, you risk seeing your architect end up in prison!
At the end of each round, the position of your Architects in the Art Nouveau area determines who holds the majority, granting bonuses and victory points. Additionally, there are progress tracks that reward different strategies at the end of the game. The player who best balances construction, art, and political influence will emerge victorious. It's the perfect game for those who want the complexity of a Eurogame but in a more agile and visually elegant format.
Bruxelles 1897 is essentially a compact and clever version of the original Bruxelles 1893. The brilliant part is that the strategic depth of the original board game has been preserved, while the mechanics were streamlined for a smoother experience. The game unfolds over 4 rounds, where managing your Architects is the key to success. Each player starts with 5 Architect cards (valued from 1 to 5), which act as your 'workers'.
Actions are split between two main areas. In the Art Nouveau area, you replace action cards with your Architects, paying the card's value to execute the task. In the Brussels area, actions are free, but they require an increasing number of Architects to activate — and be careful: if you're too ambitious, you risk seeing your architect end up in prison!
At the end of each round, the position of your Architects in the Art Nouveau area determines who holds the majority, granting bonuses and victory points. Additionally, there are progress tracks that reward different strategies at the end of the game. The player who best balances construction, art, and political influence will emerge victorious. It's the perfect game for those who want the complexity of a Eurogame but in a more agile and visually elegant format.
Gallery
Box and component photos
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Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
REC
3
BEST
4
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Geek Attitude Games, Galápagos Jogos, GDM Games, Kobold Spieleverlag, Light N Games Inc.
Designer
Etienne Espreman
Artist
Vincent Joassin
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
5,052owners
815wishlist
98want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Is it hard to learn?
It has a medium weight (2.85), so it's not a gateway game, but it's simpler than the 1893 version. If you're familiar with worker placement, you'll pick it up quickly.
How long does a game take?
Usually between 40 to 60 minutes, which is great for those who want depth without spending 3 hours at the table.
Do I need to have played Bruxelles 1893 first?
Not at all! It works perfectly as a standalone, though those who played the original will feel right at home with the mechanics.
What is the ideal player count?
It works from 2 to 4 players, but with 3 or 4, the fight for area majority becomes much more intense.
What happens if my architect gets arrested?
You lose the availability of that card for a while, which can disrupt your plans, so carefully weigh your risks in the Brussels area!
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