Rebuilding Chicago
- Board's Eye View
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
We featured Rebuilding Seattle (WizKids) three years ago on Board's Eye View. It was an economic city building game that involved polyominoes, engine-building and even a touch of legislation. The game was themed around the reconstruction of Seattle after its Great Fire of 1889. Seattle tho' wasn't alone, however, in suffering a Great Fire. In 1871, Mrs O'Leary's cow reputedly knocked over a lantern that started a blaze in a barn that gave rise to the Great Fire of Chicago... Designer Quinn Brander has been back to the city drawing board with a similar game themed around the reconstruction of Chicago after the devastation of that Great Fire.
Rebuilding Chicago isn't an expansion to Rebuilding Seattle but rather a standalone sequel. If you've played Rebuilding Seattle there'll be much you'll recognise but Rebuilding Chicago isn't just more of the same. It's a eurogame that's a step up in complexity from the earlier game, and veterans of that game will recall that that already presented players with a lot of options! Tho' Rebuilding Chicago includes additional components for its discrete solitaire mode, it's primarily a competitive game for 2-5 players and there's more player interaction than in the 2023 game.
WizKids have also further stepped up the production of the game. Rebuilding Chicago features more intricate artwork than its predecessor and the box includes component trays that help speed set up and tear down and make the game a little less of a table hog.
If you already have Rebuilding Seattle and it's a game you've come to love then you're sure to want to move on up to Rebuilding Chicago. If you missed the earlier game then this is your chance to get on board with the Windy City.
