Big City

About this board game

Big City is a city-building board game for 2–5 players that plays in about 60 minutes. Released in 1999, it combines card acquisition, spatial building placement, and scoring based on the neighborhood each structure creates.

Players acquire cards from eight different neighborhoods, then use those cards to lay out buildings on the city map. Structures can cover one, two, or three spaces, giving the developing city a varied physical shape and making the placement of each building an important part of the game.

Scoring combines a building’s basic value with bonuses determined by the buildings surrounding it. As a result, a structure is evaluated not only for what it is, but also for how it fits into the city around it.

• Acquire cards in eight distinct neighborhoods.
• Place buildings covering one, two, or three spaces.
• Score a base value plus bonuses from surrounding buildings.
• Use the city hall to unlock placement of more advanced structures.

One of Big City’s most distinctive features is its city hall. A player must place it before anyone can begin placing structures beyond the game’s simple residences and businesses. The player who places city hall scores no points for it, making this a notable moment in the city’s development.

With its striking plastic components and clear focus on building a shared urban layout, Big City presents a compact city-building experience centered on cards, spatial decisions, and surrounding structures. Players gradually shape the map while working within the game’s progression from basic buildings to more advanced construction.