Pompeji

About this board game

Pompeji is a city-building board game for 2–4 players, played in about 45 minutes. Players construct Pompeii on a 7×7 grid using cards that display building types, numbers, and colors.

Every placement must follow a key restriction: the same building types and colors may not be placed horizontally or vertically adjacent. As the city grows, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal streets emerge across the grid, creating scoring opportunities with each new card.

A newly placed card can score along up to four streets: two diagonals, one vertical street, and one horizontal street. When its color matches other cards along a street, the player scores points equal to the highest-valued card of that color. When its building matches others, the player scores the total value of all matching buildings.

• 7×7 city grid: Build Pompeii by placing cards with numbers, colors, and building types.
• Street scoring: Match colors and buildings across horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines.
• Special cards: Use a building permit for an extra or out-of-turn play, and a statue as a wild card.
• Road bonus: Receive 7 points for placing the seventh building in a road.

Each player receives one special building permit card and one statue card, adding flexible options to the city’s construction. The game ends when the second of the two volcano cards in the deck is revealed, giving Pompeji a clearly defined conclusion.

With its combination of placement restrictions, emerging streets, and layered scoring, Pompeji challenges players to consider both immediate points and the shape of the developing city.