In Saint Petersburg, you play as a Russian noble assisting Czar Peter in building the glorious city of Saint Petersburg, founded in 1703. Your goal is to attract nobility to your part of the city, which earns you victory points. However, to do this, you'll need plenty of money and workers. The game is essentially a card game featuring a central board to organize the four available card categories and track victory points. Each round, players purchase cards from Craftsmen (who generate income), Buildings (which provide victory points), Aristocrats (who are worth money, points, and end-game bonuses), and unique cards that combine benefits from the previous categories. The purchase order is fixed, but card availability and competition with other players make every decision crucial. Early on, money is tight, and you need to choose your purchases wisely. Later, you'll have plenty of cash, but the cards you wanted might already be gone! It's a game of resource and time optimization, where every purchase counts. Expansions, such as 'Sankt Petersburg: Das Bankett' and 'Saint Petersburg: New Society & Banquet Expansion', add even more depth and variety to the experience.