Saint Petersburg

About this board game

Saint Petersburg is a card-collecting board game for 2–4 players, released in 2004, with games taking about 60 minutes. Set during the founding of Saint Petersburg, it challenges players to develop the city while competing for valuable cards.

The game includes a board for tallying victory points and displaying four types of cards. Players collect these cards to build their position, generate Rubles, score points, and prepare for end-of-game scoring.

• Craftsmen supply money for future purchases.
• Buildings provide victory points.
• Aristocrats contribute money, points, and end-of-game scoring value.
• Unique cards offer greater benefits across the other categories.

Each round follows a set sequence: players first pay for craftsmen, then buildings, then aristocrats, and finally unique cards. The number of rounds depends on the number of players and the random availability of cards.

Early in the game, money is limited, so you cannot afford every card you want. As the game progresses, Rubles become more plentiful—but the cards you need may already have been taken. This creates a constant tension between developing your own supply of money and claiming an opportunity before another player does.

In Saint Petersburg, timing matters as much as spending. The game was expanded by Sankt Petersburg: Das Bankett and Saint Petersburg: New Society & Banquet Expansion, which includes The Banquet.