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Akrotiri
- 2 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2014
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- BGG rating
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Shinjuku
2024
Rules assistance for Shinjuku
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Shinjuku
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shinjuku is a board game released in 2024 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Gary Kacmarcik and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Network and Route Building.
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About the game
In Shinjuku, a strategic network-building and pick-up-and-deliver board game, you build stores in Tokyo and the rail lines to connect them so that you can build the most successful shopping/rail conglomerate. Every turn, new customers arrive on the map looking to purchase one of four goods. On your turn, you choose two different actions from: (a) build a store, (b) expand your rail, (c) upgrade to a department store, (d) draw cards as income, or (e) move customers along the rail to stores. You start with a hand of four location cards and draw a new card each turn. The build, upgrade, and move actions require that you play a matching location card from your hand. Cards in your hand that match locations where you have previously built a store are wild and can be used to match any location. The game ends one round after the last customer has been placed, and victory goes to the player who acquires the most sets of customers. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Maldito Games
- HeidelBÄR Games
- Studio Supernova
- リゴレ (rigoler)
Questions and answers
Shinjuku supports 2–4 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 Shinjuku is 60 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 Shinjuku for ages 10 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.
Shinjuku has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Shinjuku belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Network and Route Building. 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 Shinjuku are: Gary Kacmarcik. 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 Shinjuku 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.