Noria

Noria puts you at the helm of a commercial empire about to take off – literally. In a steampunk world dotted with floating islands, you buy ships, erect factories and fund prestige projects while trying to sway politicians with secret knowledge. The core of the game is the so‑called "wheel building" mechanic: each player controls an action wheel made of three concentric rings that hold various action discs. Over the course of play you acquire new discs, swap their positions and rotate the rings to craft the optimal sequence of actions for your strategy. This blends deck, bag and pool building, as the discs you collect become your personal pool of options. A dash of diplomacy appears as bribing politicians can ensure your investments pay off. Designed for 2‑4 players, games run 70‑120 minutes and sit at a medium complexity (weight 3.6/5), perfect for those who enjoy strategic decisions without endless rulebooks. The components are solid, with detailed art by Michael Menzel and Klemens Franz that bring the steampunk setting to life. If you love resource management, production chains and a floating‑islands theme, Noria offers a distinct experience, though the learning curve of the action wheel may need a few plays to master. In the end, the game rewards players who balance investments, production and political influence, delivering a finale where the best‑planned empire rules the skies.