Lost Cities

1999

Lost Cities is an exhilarating card game where players lead archaeological expeditions. Strategize your plays and score points to win. Perfect for lovers of strategy and adventure.

30
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

10+

Medium Light

About the game

‘Lost Cities‘ is a captivating board game that transports you to the heart of ancient and mysterious civilizations. It’s an adventurous journey where you lead expeditions to remote corners of the world. Designed by Reiner Knizia, the game masterfully creates a balance between risk, reward, and competition.

The game’s theme revolves around exploration. As a player, you’ll step into the shoes of an intrepid explorer, embarking on expeditions to discover forgotten cities in various locales – from the deepest jungles to the coldest Arctic. The game’s artwork and components further enhance this theme, providing a visually immersive experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Lost Cities is a popular card game designed for two players, where the goal is to mount lucrative expeditions to various ancient ruins across the globe. The game comes with a variety of components, each with its own specific role and interaction within the game mechanics.

The components of ‘Lost Cities’ are as follows:

The Game Board: The game board is a small, rectangular board with five columns, each representing a different expedition (desert, jungle, sea, mountain, and arctic). Players place their cards in ascending order in these columns to form their expeditions. The board also indicates the starting point of each expedition.
Expedition Cards: There are 60 expedition cards, 12 for each of the 5 expeditions. These cards are numbered from 2 to 10. Players use these cards to form expeditions on the game board. The higher the card’s value, the further you have progressed in your expedition.
Investment Cards: These are 20 cards, four for each expedition, that are similar to the expedition cards but have a ‘handshake’ symbol instead of a number. Players can play these cards before starting an expedition to increase its value, but this also increases the risk as they must reach a higher total to score points.
Score Tracker: This is a separate sheet or pad of paper not included in the game but necessary for keeping track of each player’s score across multiple rounds. After each round, players calculate their scores based on the expeditions they have completed, and the player with the highest total score after three rounds wins the game.

These components interact to create a game of risk and reward. The game starts with each player being dealt 8 cards from the deck. On their turn, a player must first play a card, either starting or adding to an expedition on the game board, or discarding a card to the matching expedition’s discard pile. Then they draw a card, either from the deck or from a discard pile. The game ends when the last card is drawn from the deck, and then players calculate their scores.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Lost Cities is a card game designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Kosmos. The game is played with a deck of cards numbered 2 through 10 in five different colors, with each color representing an expedition. The deck also includes three ‘investment’ cards for each color. The goal of the game is to mount profitable expeditions to the five different lost cities. Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up the game:

Step 1: Preparing the Game Board and Cards:

Unfold the game board and place it in the middle of the playing area. The board features five different expedition routes, each corresponding to a color in the deck.
Shuffle the deck and deal each player 8 cards. Place the remaining cards in a draw pile next to the board.

Step 2: Player Roles:

Lost Cities is a two-player game. Players take on the roles of explorers, aiming to plan and undertake expeditions to discover the five lost cities. There are no distinct roles; both players have the same abilities and opportunities.

Step 3: Initial Resources:

At the beginning of the game, each player’s initial resources are the eight cards dealt to them. Each card can represent a step along an expedition or an investment in an expedition.

Step 4: Random Elements:

The main random element in Lost Cities is the draw of cards. Players draw a card at the end of each turn, either from the draw pile or from the discard piles for each expedition. The cards drawn determine the progress of the players’ expeditions and their ability to invest in those expeditions.

Step 5: First Turn:

Decide who goes first by any method you prefer. This player starts the game by either playing a card onto an expedition or discarding a card onto the corresponding expedition’s discard pile. Then, the player draws a card to end their turn.

Game flow Round and round we go

Lost Cities is a two-player card game, designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Kosmos. The game involves a high level of strategy and planning. Here is a detailed breakdown of the game rules and structure:

The Setup:

Shuffle the deck: This contains cards of five different colors each numbered from 2 to 10, and three ‘handshake’ cards in each color.
Distribute the cards: Each player is dealt a hand of eight cards.
Organize the play area: Five expeditions (one for each color) are laid out for each player.

The Gameplay:

Each turn consists of two parts:

Playing a card: The player must either place a card on an expedition or discard a card to the matching color discard pile. Handshake cards must be played before any numbered cards in an expedition. Numbered cards must be played in ascending order.
Drawing a card: The player then draws a card to refill their hand. They may draw the top card from the deck or from any one of the five discard piles, but they cannot draw the card they discarded in the same turn.

Scoring:

When the last card is drawn from the deck, the round ends and scores are calculated for each player’s expeditions. The base score is the total value of all numbered cards in the expedition, minus 20. Handshake cards act as multipliers to this score – one handshake doubles the score, two triples it, and so on. Therefore, an expedition’s score can be negative if the total value of its numbered cards is less than 20.

End of the Game:

The game is typically played over three rounds, with scores accumulated across rounds. The player with the highest total score at the end of these rounds wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game ‘Lost Cities’, players are explorers who are out to discover lost civilizations, and during their turn, they have a variety of strategic actions to choose from which can greatly affect the course of the game. These actions are as follows:

1. Draw a Card:

Each player starts their turn by drawing a card. They may choose to draw either from the deck or from the discard pile. The card drawn could be of any of the five colors representing the different expeditions: red, green, white, blue, and yellow.

Strategic Choice: Drawing from the deck gives the player a new, unknown card, which could help or hinder their strategy depending on what they already have in their hand. Alternatively, drawing from the discard pile is a known quantity, but it gives information to the other players about the player’s intentions.

2. Play or Discard a Card:

After drawing a card, the player must either play a card on an expedition or discard a card to the discard pile. The card played must be of a higher value than the previous card played on that expedition. If a player chooses to discard, they must discard a card from their hand.

Strategic Choice: Playing a card allows the player to score points towards an expedition, but it requires them to commit to that expedition for the rest of the game. Discarding a card can be a way to get rid of cards that are not useful to the player’s current strategy, but it also potentially gives other players the opportunity to use those cards.

3. End of Turn:

Once a player has drawn and played or discarded a card, their turn ends and it’s the next player’s turn. The game continues in this way until the deck is exhausted.

Strategic Choice: The pace at which the game is played can be controlled by how quickly players choose to draw and play or discard their cards. A player who wishes to slow down the game can choose to hold onto their cards for as long as possible, while a player who wants to speed up the game can play or discard quickly.

All of these actions and strategic choices have a significant impact on the gameplay of ‘Lost Cities’, and understanding them is crucial for forming a winning strategy.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Lost Cities’ comes to an end when all cards from the draw pile have been drawn and the last card in a player’s hand has been played. This signifies the end of the game and triggers the final scoring.

Victory Conditions:

The victor in ‘Lost Cities’ is determined by the total points scored in all expeditions embarked upon. Each player totals up points for their expeditions at the end of the game and the player with the highest total wins.

Actions Players Must Take Before Final Scoring:

Before final scoring, players must ensure that all their expeditions are properly calculated. This involves a few steps:

Base Score Calculation: The sum of all numbered cards in an expedition is calculated. This is the base score of that expedition.
Investment Multipliers: If a player has placed investment cards (handshakes) in an expedition, these act as multipliers. The base score is multiplied by the number of investment cards plus one. For example, if a player has played 2 investment cards, the base score is multiplied by 3.
Minimum Value Deduction: Each expedition that a player starts (i.e., places cards in) costs 20 points. So, this value has to be subtracted from the multiplied base score of each expedition.
Bonus for 8 or more cards: If a player has played 8 or more cards in an expedition, they receive a flat bonus of 20 points for that expedition.

After these calculations are performed for each expedition, the totals are all added together to obtain the player’s final score. The player with the highest final score is declared the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Lost Cities is a popular card game where players embark on expeditions to discover various lost cities. The scoring system is a major part of gameplay, encouraging strategic decision making and risk assessment. In this game, points are awarded based on the progress of your expeditions and investments made throughout the game. Here’s how the scoring system works:

Expedition Scoring:

Expedition Base Cost: Each expedition starts with a base cost of -20 points. As players progress in their expedition by playing cards of increasing value, they earn points equal to the face value of the card. These points help to offset the initial negative score of the expedition.
Expedition Profit: If the total face value of cards in an expedition exceeds 20, the player starts making a profit. For example, if a player has played cards with a total face value of 25 in one expedition, the player’s score for that expedition would be 5 (25 – 20 = 5).

Investment Cards:

Multiplier Effect: At the beginning of each expedition, players have the option to play investment cards. These cards multiply the expedition score (both positive and negative) by the number of investment cards played. For example, if a player played two investment cards and the score of the expedition was 5, the total score would be 5 * 3 = 15.
Additional Investments: It’s important to note that investment cards must be the first cards played in an expedition and once an expedition has started with a numbered card, no more investment cards can be added to it.

Bonus Points:

Eight Card Bonus: If a player has played 8 or more cards in a single expedition, they receive a bonus of 20 points for that expedition.

Tie-Breaking:

In the event of a tie, the player who has started fewer expeditions is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who has played fewer total cards wins. If there is still a tie after this, the game ends in a draw.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Lost Cities is a two-player game with a simple objective: to explore various expeditions and return with the highest score. However, there are a few exceptional rules and clarifications that need to be understood to fully enjoy and strategize in the game.

Investment Cards: These are the hand cards with the numbers 2, 3, and 4. They’re unique because:

You must play them before any numbered cards on an expedition.
You cannot play more than one investment card per turn.
Each investment card doubles, triples, or quadruples the expedition’s value but also the risk.

Starting an Expedition: It’s important to understand that:

Starting an expedition isn’t free. It costs 20 points, which are subtracted from its final value. So, choose wisely!
You can start an expedition at any time, but once you start, you need to continue it until the end of the game.

Discard Pile: The discard pile isn’t just a place to get rid of unwanted cards. It has strategic value because:

Players can draw cards from it, but the top card only.
Players can also see the cards in the discard pile, which can be used to strategize their next move.

Scoring: Scoring in Lost Cities can be a bit complex, especially with the addition of investment cards. Here’s what you need to remember:

Each expedition’s value equals the total of numbered cards played, minus 20, times the number of investment cards plus one.
Expeditions with 8 or more cards, including investment cards, get a 20-point bonus.

End of the Game: The game ends when the last card is drawn from the draw pile. It’s crucial to remember that:

Players do not necessarily have an equal number of turns.
The player who ends the game gets to finish their turn.
The player who draws the last card does not get another turn.

By understanding these special rules and exceptions, players can better strategize and enjoy the thrill of Lost Cities.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Lost Cities is a thrilling card game that requires a blend of strategy and luck. Understanding the game’s rules is the first step, but to truly excel and maximize your scores, you need to employ advanced strategies and avoid common errors. Below are some tips and strategies that can help you optimize your gameplay in Lost Cities.

Advanced Strategies

Keep Track of Discarded Cards: It’s crucial to remember which cards have been discarded. This can help you estimate what’s left in the deck and make informed decisions.
Delay Starting Expeditions: Starting an expedition costs 20 points, so it’s often better to delay until you have several cards in hand that you can play in quick succession.
Control the Game Speed: The game ends when all cards are drawn. So, controlling the pace of card drawing can influence how much time you and your opponent have to complete your expeditions.

Beginner Tips

Start Small: If you’re new to the game, don’t start too many expeditions at once. Focus on one or two to get the hang of how they work.
Use Your Hand Cards Wisely: Be careful not to discard cards that could benefit your opponent. Always consider the potential consequences before discarding.
Take Advantage of Multiplier Cards: These cards can significantly boost your score in an expedition, but they also increase the risk. Use them wisely!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting Expeditions Prematurely: A common mistake is to start an expedition without enough cards in hand. This can quickly put you at a point deficit.
Not Keeping Track of Discards: Forgetting which cards have been discarded can lead to poor decision-making, as you might discard cards that your opponent needs, or hold onto cards that are of no use.
Ignoring Your Opponent’s Strategy: Paying attention to your opponent’s expeditions and discards can give you valuable information about their strategy and the cards they might have in hand.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Plan Your Expeditions: Don’t just play cards randomly. Plan your expeditions, and aim for at least 20 points in each to offset the initial cost.
Be Flexible: Your strategy should change based on the cards you draw. Be ready to adjust your plans as needed.
Use Time to Your Advantage: If you’re ahead, speed up the game by drawing cards quickly. If you’re behind, slow it down and give yourself more time to catch up.