# Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2025 - **BGG Rating**: 8.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 60-120 min - **Weight**: 3.02 / 5 - **Designers**: Andreas Seyfarth - **Artists**: Jakub Dzikowski - **Publishers**: Awaken Realms, Ravensburger AG, alea, GoKids 玩樂小子, Korea Boardgames - **Categories**: Economic, Farming - **Mechanics**: Action Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Follow, Hidden Victory Points, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Solo / Solitaire Game, Turn Order: Progressive, Variable Phase Order ## Verdict For those who love classic Eurogames and want the definitive experience with deluxe components.Top-tier component qualityAll expansions includedTimeless 'Follow' mechanicRobust solo mode includedLearning curve for beginnersHigh price point for special editionHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to rule! Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition brings back one of the greatest pillars of modern strategy in a luxurious package. Here, you aren't just an administrator; you take on crucial roles such as the Builder, the Trader, or the Captain to transform your colony into the most prosperous island in the region. The dynamics are brilliant: when you choose a role, all other players can also perform that role's action, but as the 'chooser,' you usually reap the greatest benefit. It's a game of timing, where knowing exactly when to harvest your goods or expand your city makes all the difference between glory and oblivion. What makes this edition special is the partnership between Ravensburger and Awaken Realms, which has pushed the visual and tactile quality to the absolute limit. Forget the simple editions; we're talking about polished components, refreshed artwork, and a layout that makes the experience much smoother. Furthermore, this is the definitive version: it encompasses all previous expansions, adds brand-new content, and for those who enjoy playing alone, includes a robust solo mode. Depending on the version you get, you might even have playmats and 3D terrain that turn your gaming table into a true colonial landscape. If you're looking for an economic game where every decision carries weight and player interaction is constant and strategic, this is the definitive version of an absolute classic. ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition, players compete to become the most prosperous farmers on the island, accumulating Victory Points (VP) through farming, production, trading, and building structures. The game is set in 1897, following the end of the colonial era, where players manage properties, recruit workers, and trade goods such as corn, fruit, sugar, tobacco, and coffee. Winning Condition: The game ends when one of three conditions is met (lack of workers, all building spaces occupied, or VP tokens exhausted). The player with the most VP at the end of the game wins; in the event of a tie, coins and crates are also considered. Setup Place the Main Board in the center and organize the resource, building, and VP trays nearby. Position the Employment Agency and the Trading House in their designated spaces. Prepare the Cargo Ships with decks appropriate to the number of players (4/5/6 spaces for 3/4/5 players). Distribute: 1 Player Board and 1 Player Portrait for each player. 2/3/4 Coins (one less than the number of players). Initial Property Tokens (fruit for the first players, corn for the last). The player with the Governor Marker starts the game. Gameplay Flow The game is divided into rounds, where each player chooses one Role at a time (in clockwise order). In each round: The Governor chooses an available Role, performs its action, and uses its Advantage. The other players perform the action of the chosen Role (without the Advantage). Repeat until all Roles have been chosen. Add 1 Coin to each unused Role, return the tokens to the board, and pass the Governor Marker. Actions and How to Play Available Roles: Planter: Take a Property Token or a Quarry (Advantage: choose the quarry). Recruiter: Acquire Workers from the Employment Agency (Advantage: +1 worker from the General Reserve). Builder: Builds a Building (Advantage: 1 Coin discount). Producer: Produces Crates according to occupied properties (Advantage: +1 crate of a produced type). Trader: Sells a Product at the Trading House (Advantage: +1 Coin). Captain: Sends Products to ships (mandatory; Advantage: +1 VP if carrying something). Adventurer: Gains 1 Coin (no action for other players). End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: There are not enough Workers to fill the Employment Agency. A player occupies all 12 Building spaces. The VP tokens run out (at the end of the Captain phase). Scoring: Sum the VP from tokens, buildings (occupied or not), and expanded building bonuses. In case of a tie, count coins and crates. Tips for Winning Prioritize versatile buildings: The Warehouse and the Port help accumulate VP during the Captain phase. Monopolize valuable products: Coffee and tobacco yield more coins when sold, but require specific production buildings. Use Quarries to save: They reduce construction costs, especially for expensive buildings. Consult the manual for details on expansions and specific buildings. ## FAQ ### Is the game too hard for beginners? It has a medium-high weight (3.0 on BGG). Not impossible, but it requires attention to rules and strategy. Ideal for those who have played a few Euros. ### How long does a game take? It varies between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and how many expansions you decide to use. ### Does this edition come with expansions? Yes! This is the 'Big Box' version, gathering all previous expansions and adding new content. ### Can I play it solo? Yes, this special edition includes a solo mode, allowing you to test your strategies without needing a group. ### What's the difference from older versions? The component quality is vastly superior, with new artwork and, in some versions, 3D pieces and playmats. ### How many people can play? From 1 to 5 players, making it very versatile for different group sizes. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Rejoga**: R$ 1.600,00 (/partner/go.php?p=rejoga&g=3735&u=https%3A%2F%2Frejoga.com.br%2Fanuncio%2Fb145a61f-9458-4b9f-8f32-2d7a042a2cc9%3Forigem%3Dboardgamesbot) - **Brechó Lúdico**: R$ 1.222,28 (https://brecholudico.com.br/produto/puerto-rico-1897/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Rejoga**: R$ 2.810,00 (/partner/go.php?p=rejoga&g=3735&u=https%3A%2F%2Frejoga.com.br%2Fanuncio%2Fc28d9953-22ef-468b-9157-35d59f845426%3Forigem%3Dboardgamesbot) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/puerto-rico-1897-special-edition