Rome In A Day Review

Every so often a game comes along which is so fun with such a simple rule set you wonder ‘how did no one think of this before?’. Rome In A Day, designed by Evgeny Petrov, meets that criteria and then throws in lovely components for some added cherries on top.

This is a ‘I Split, You Choose’ game where you are dividing lands (with the odd building on top) for your opponent to take whilst you also take lands from them. With these newly acquired lands each player builds their own version of Rome trying to score the most points with a simple ‘Set Collection / City’ mechanism.

Does this sound like a game you would like to play? It should, please read on to find out more.

Rome-ing Around

The aim of the game is for all players to build their versions of Rome, scoring points for having groups of the same coloured tiles next to as many of the same coloured buildings as possible. In addition points are awarded for collecting gems.

Played over four identical rounds, at the start of which each player reveals five new tiles in front of them and places a building on the first two tiles. The buildings are predetermined by a card that is dealt to all players at the start of the game. Players then hide these tiles behind their screens and split them at a ratio of two & three, one & four, or zero & five. Players then place one of their four starting gems on the smallest grouping.

Screens are simultaneously revealed and then players choose (simultaneously again) which set they want according to the round (either clockwise or anti clockwise). With your newly acquired tiles and buildings you start to build Rome. Tiles can be added to your city however you like as long as it is connected on one edge. You cannot move buildings from the tiles they sit on and once a tile is placed it cannot be moved in later rounds.

Rome Was Built In 15 Minutes

Hiding behind the simple rule set is a delicate balance of acquiring new lands, the buildings and the gems, whilst also trying to make sure you don’t give your opponents the ones that they want. The interaction is ‘through the roof’ as you are constantly watching your opponent’s choices and trying to tailor your split so you receive exactly what you want without giving too much away.

The play time is so quick. The box says 15 to 30 minutes, but in reality once all players are up to speed 15 minutes is definitely the average playtime. This is a good thing as you can play three of four times in an hour, and in my experience you will.

Final Thoughts

I love games that are this simple to teach, play really quickly, play well at all player counts (2 to 5), and look this good on the table. Really, there is absolutely nothing to complain about here for the price you pay.

This is the perfect filler game that will end up staying on the table far longer than you expected as everyone will always ask for just one more go.

For a ‘I split, You Choose’ game to work this well at two players is a real achievement. At two you end up watching your opponent’s city as much as your own, as you desperately try to work out the best way of collection your required city tiles whilst also collecting the most gems.

Talking of gems, do not ignore these. Quite often the difference between winning and losing can be having less gems than your opponents. I love how this is a closed economy system with the gems handed out at the beginning of the game being all there is for the whole game.

The only real negative I have for the game is the art on the tiles is very small and hard to see, but really it doesn’t matter because the colour of the tile is your only concern.

So, go and buy this game, then play with your friends / family and remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, no, it was built four times an hour with this awesome game.