- BGG rank
- BGG #918
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Between Two Cities
- 1–7 players
- 25 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,690
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Between Two Cities Essential Edition
2022
Rules assistance for Between Two Cities Essential Edition
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–7 players
- 30 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Between Two Cities Essential Edition
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Between Two Cities Essential Edition is a board game released in 2022 for 1–7 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ben Rosset and Matthew O'Malley and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Between Two Cities is a 30-minute tile-drafting game for 1-7 players in which each tile is part of a city. You work with the player on your left to build one city center while simultaneously working with the player on your right to build a second city center. On each turn you select two tiles from your hand, reveal them, then work with your partners to place one of your selected tiles into each of your two cities. At the end of the game, each city is scored for its architectural grandiosity. Your final score is the lower of the scores of the two cities you helped design, and the player with the highest final score wins the game. To win, you have to share your attention and your devotion equally Between Two Cities. The Essential Edition combines components from the original game and the Capitals expansion into one cohesive whole. While it features a bigger box than the original game, different art on some tiles, and a scorepad instead of a board, there are no new gameplay elements (i.e., if you own Between Two Cities and the Capitals Expansion, you already have everything). —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Ghenos Games
- Stonemaier Games
Questions and answers
Between Two Cities Essential Edition supports 1–7 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Between Two Cities Essential Edition is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Between Two Cities Essential Edition for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Between Two Cities Essential Edition has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Between Two Cities Essential Edition belongs to these categories: Negotiation and City Building. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Simultaneous Action Selection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Between Two Cities Essential Edition are: Ben Rosset and Matthew O'Malley. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Between Two Cities Essential Edition as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.