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- BGG #1,331
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Mint Works
- 1–4 players
- 10–20 min
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- 2017
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- BGG rating
- 6.6
Penny Lane
2019
Rules assistance for Penny Lane
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Penny Lane
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Penny Lane is a board game released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Justin Blaske and Mel Primus and its main mechanics are Worker Placement.
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About the game
Penny Lane is a worker placement game in which players compete to build the most prosperous city avenue. You can build residences, shops like the Confectioners, and attractions like the Penny Arcade! You'll also need to employ citizens to generate income for your lane. Penny Lane also has a tableau-building component, where players can get bonus points or currency by aligning their buildings with different "links." Each round consists of an action phase followed by an upkeep phase. In the action phase, a player can either select a Main Street action or pass. The action phase repeats until each player has passed. To take a Main Street action, a player must choose from the communal Main Street cards, and place the required number of pennies on the open action space. The player then carries out the effect of that card. Possible actions include purchasing a building, placing a worker, rearranging buildings, or claiming the Mayor meeple to become the new 1st player. Each player places purchase buildings in their lane. If they're able to connect a penny link, they get an extra penny at the end of each upkeep phase. If they're able to connect a victory point link, they get an extra victory point at the end of the game. In the upkeep phase, all players gain 1 penny. Players then resolve all effects in their lane as indicated by the upkeep symbol and their penny links. The final round is triggered when one player has 10 or more points on their lane, and the player with the most victory points wins!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Sparkworks
Questions and answers
Penny Lane supports 2–5 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 Penny Lane 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 Penny Lane 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.
Penny Lane has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Penny Lane belongs to these categories: City Building. Its main mechanics are Worker Placement. 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 Penny Lane are: Justin Blaske and Mel Primus. 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 Penny Lane 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.