Manhattan

About this board game

Manhattan is a board game for 2–4 players, played in about 45 minutes, in which players construct a skyline of skyscrapers across the city’s districts and compete for control of its city blocks.

On each turn, players play a card showing which part of a city block they may use to place a floor on a building. Each player’s placement cards are unique in relation to their seating position at the table, making the available sections depend on where they sit.

As buildings grow, the player who places the topmost floor controls that building. Players must therefore decide where to add their floors while pursuing control across the districts of Manhattan. The goal is not simply to build upward, but to establish a skyline presence across the island.

• Build skyscrapers across multiple city districts.
• Use placement cards to determine where floors may be added.
• Control buildings by placing the topmost floor.
• Score through district control and the tallest buildings.

At the end of each round, scores are tallied based on control of the neighborhoods. The final result combines points from area control and the tallest buildings, rewarding the player who has achieved the strongest overall position.

Released in 1994, Manhattan presents a focused contest over an evolving urban skyline. With its relative card placement, building control, and district scoring, the game turns every floor into part of a larger struggle for the city’s most valuable blocks.