San Francisco

About this board game

San Francisco is a city-rebuilding board game for 3–5 players, with an approximate play time of 90 minutes. Set after the great earthquake, it challenges players to help rebuild the city while competing for control of its emerging buildings.

The board presents a straightforward matrix that is randomly populated with building tiles. Across a set number of turns, players take part in auctions for the right to place possession rods around these tiles. When one player establishes a clear plurality around a building, that tile is scored by them.

The auction system gives San Francisco several distinct ways to compete. Players may bid money in sequence, choose one of three building types through blind bidding, or secretly bid influence points. Each format creates a different contest for control and changes how players approach the available buildings.

• Sequential money bidding: Compete through escalating bids for building opportunities.
• Blind building-type bidding: Select one of three building types, with clashes determined by money bids.
• Blind influence bidding: Secretly bid influence points, with matching bids cancelling each other.

As buildings are erected, possession rods mark the players’ claims around the developing city. The changing pattern of control makes each auction relevant to the final point total, while the different bidding methods keep competition varied from turn to turn.

After the designated number of turns has passed and a building has been erected during each turn, the player with the highest point total wins. With its post-earthquake setting, randomly arranged building tiles, and varied auction formats, San Francisco focuses on competing for valuable control as the city is rebuilt.