Power Grid: The Card Game Review - with Sam Healey

[@IvanGrimm1]

FYI: I think the blue resource is natural gas not water.

[@holgerchristiansen4003]

For people that are looking at this review to get an idea how the game plays: There is one major mistake Sam did in his review: The resources are not simply moved one column left and then the columns filled. Instead you use the ressources from the 3 column to fill in the 2 column, then from 4 to 3, and then you fill the vacant spots with new cards. When moving cards left, you use coal first, then gas, oil and lastly uranium. This ensures that usually coal falls in price much faster then uranium for example and is a key aspect of the games economic engine. Also of important note: In the very last round you are NOT allowed to buy more resources then you need to power your plants. So you cannot deny those resources to other players unless you actually need them for yourself. So the final scoring example wouldn't work start out like Sam showed, since the gas couldn't have been at 3. A minor mistake, but the "no overstocking" part is pretty important so I wanted to mention it :)

[@lucaspiccoli7090]

Holger Christiansen You actually made another mistake yourself. According to the rulebook, you slide all cards from column 3 to column 2, and then, if there are still blank spots in column 2, you continue sliding cards there directly from column 4. Only when column 2 is completely refilled, you start sliding cards from 4 to 3. Also, column 1 never gets cards this way, there's another fiddly rule for that.

[@fingerK4]

I think Sam is the only one who likes PG just for the board :) For me the best thing is the simulation of the stock market which PG does it awesome and so does PG the Card Game. Fans of PG will love this, trust me. 6 player game in an hour ;) As for paper money, just switch with card money or chips, big deal :) It's a steal for $15!

[@GabrielFerreiraDOP]

for sure!

[@rinaldodelucca8073]

I think the game looks great, because it's a good economic and simple game. This card game is not intended to replace Power Grid or even to offer the same experience. Otherwise one of the two games would be completely unnecessary. Having this in mind, I think more people would like this game if the game had a completely different name. Let's assess the game for whatever it is, not by what its big brother does. I don't agree with you Sam, but thank you for this review.

[@TheMrE]

Rinaldo De Lucca I would agree but I don't believe this game can stand on its own. I can't imagine this appealing to gamers who don't know PG already. It kind of is a game designed for those who've already played the boardgame.

[@smoothcriminal28]

+TheMrE I disagree

[@Steve-L]

Sam you mentioned a "discount" power plant, and there was a token. Did that token represent a sale on one plant?

[@GabrielFerreiraDOP]

I didn't see any round scoretrack or marker... does it comes with the game? or do you need to remember which round you're at?

[@AriadneJC]

That's natural gas not water.

[@Archronic]

I'd love to see water get added but I guess it kind of fits in with the green powerplants... so I'll just have to imagine its in there somewhere!! Did they remove garbage powered powerplants??

[@shanelaporte]

For the record, I DO like paper money! Although I'll admit I'm probably in the minority.

[@fongstar]

Totally agree with your final verdict.

[@schubertnewfield]

lol Whenever I see the guys rant about paper money I always think I'd rather have a thin pile of easily concealable money than a heap of chips or tokens. Never had a problem with it. Different strokes I guess

[@KabukiKid]

Yeah, I also am fine with paper money, especially in situations where you want to keep secret money. I do agree that the money in this game, and in the original Power Grid is pretty ugly, though. Monopoly money is nicer, probably. heh For my copy of Power Grid, I made little "wallets" for all of the players to hide their money in and printed up nicer colorful money that someone posted in a file on BGG. The money is MUCH prettier and I am fine with it. Definitely check it out if you want to do the same. Use nice, thick, glossy paper for it. :-)

[@Steve-L]

What about card money? No need to hide stacks of chips or tokens, and not as thin and easily wrecked as paper, but can be just as easily hid as paper.

[@KabukiKid]

Doma Agape Printing the money on cardstock is cool too. I'd be happy with that. :-)

[@Steve-L]

It's already been done. The Dice Tower had it in their Kickstarter. They may or may not be other sources.

[@KabukiKid]

Doma Agape Yeah... those cards were pretty nice (I didn't get them, though), but I like them to be themed to the game, so I like having the Electro bucks. Yeah, call me silly. :-) lol

[@Orlor]

I bought this on a whim for something new to play. I had heard of the board game but had never played it. I figured that a card game would be a easy way to get into the board game. I was wrong... I found the board mechanics to be really fiddly. My friend and I read the rules until our brains turned into mush. After a hour, we decided that this wasn't any fun and went to something else. I'm sure there are a lot of people who like this type of game but sadly, I'm not one of them.

[@Dr_Handsoms]

Oooh! Sam might not like it too much, but I think I'd enjoy it. (adds to Christmas wishlist)

[@SamHealey6]

El Traveem I'm glad you could figure that out through the review, it means I did something right, for a change...lol.

[@julianvickers]

Thanks for your review Sam. I love power Grid. It's actually my favourite game. I'm having a hard time figuring out when I would want to play this over the regular game.

[@julianvickers]

Yeah, I get that, but I don't know if this implementation of the game would beat out San Juan, or other similar sized card games. Will have to play to see.

[@jimsmith7445]

Sam... call me strange but I bought all he boards for Power Grid.... to use for another project/wargame. me...not a real maths person either. As a card game...brain stimulator the card game has some value ... it seems straight forward enough... small footprint on the table. Probably NOT a replacement for Condotierre, Bang the ice game, or Bear Valley... BUT one I'm slightly tickled with...thanks for the review

[@kirbywarrior1]

When I first played Fleet, I considered it "Power Grid: The Card Game" before this was a thing. I think I'll stick to that one instead.

[@Runehorn]

yea I'll stick with regular power grid =) BTW I use dice tower card money when we play power grid, its so much more enjoyable!

[@wroot_lt]

I didn't like Power Grid because of its mean resource hogging/buy out mechanisms. And it was long with convoluted phases. This one is shorter, so i might put up with this one. Might.

[@nickvandam1214]

I agree with Sam, removing the board hurts the connection the theme makes. Thanks for the review

[@zakwasny]

Paper money is a blast! I love it!

[@TheMrE]

This seems fiddly as heck. Also, the game seems designed for those who ALREADY know how to play PG. I don't think it stands on its own AT ALL, I can't imagine anybody else enjoying this.

[@ronnyay]

too much components moving and maintenance for me :p

[@clumsydad7158]

yeah, i hear ya... i noticed that too

[@leshrac369]

Well its good to know that powergrid also wouldn't be for you then. *Even more component movement and matience.

[@rawsonbrian]

Nice review Sam. Like you, I think I'd rather play Power Grid than this card game varient. This is despite my love for the economic engine of Power Grid. I will buy a new PG expansion board before I buy this.

[@lasttruegypsy]

blech