Players: 3-5
Playing Time: 60-90 minutes
Avalon Hill has had a long tradition of making the thinking man’s game—and Vegas Showdown is no different. This game will test that strategy muscle you’ve been building up by playing chess and Monopoly. It really has the feel of both of those games, and it makes you think a little like an architect at the same time.
The object of Vegas Showdown is to build a casino that rivals the best of them in the heart of Las Vegas. You pit your casino-making skills against the other players and try to outbid each other for limited resources to complete your dream hotel/casino. Players score points every round based on revenue, attendance, and how you arrange the rooms of your casino.
The rooms of the casino are where all the action is. In the center of the board is a group of tiles like Slots, Lounge, Theatre, Table Games, Night Club, Restaurant, and many more. Each group is limited. There are several Slots for example, but only one Theatre. The players will bid for the rooms, and the highest bidders get to add the rooms to their casinos.
Every round is scored, and play continues until the end, where the final tally will reveal the King of Las Vegas. I found this game to be incredibly detailed and very addictive. I even talked my wife into playing it—though she doesn’t usually like these types of games—and she proceeded to trounce me soundly for three games straight. Needless to say, we don’t let her play anymore as she has a tendency to spike the fame markers, point in the air, and yell, “Mama needs a new pair of shoes!” when she wins.
Great fun.
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