Objective
The objective of Power Grid is to supply the most cities with electricity. At the end of the game, the player with the largest powered network of cities wins.
Components
- Game board with a map (double-sided for two different regions/continents)
- Power Plant cards
- Resource tokens (coal, oil, garbage, uranium)
- Houses in player colors
- Paper money
- Order tokens for player order
Setup
- Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding houses.
- Randomly determine the turn order and place the player tokens accordingly.
- Choose one side of the game board (region/continent) and reveal power plants according to the number of players.
- Place the resources in the resource market as indicated.
Gameplay
The game consists of three phases:
1. Auction Phase
- Players can buy power plants. The starting player selects a power plant to bid on. The bidding goes around until all but one player pass.
- Note: A player can own a maximum of 3 power plants.
2. Resource Phase
- Players purchase resources to operate their power plants in reverse turn order.
- Resources are bought from the resource market based on availability. Prices are higher when resources are scarce.
3. Building and Supplying Phase
- Supply your cities by consuming the paid resources from the power plants.
- Earn income based on the number of supplied cities.
- Build new connections between cities to expand your network. Costs depend on distance and building costs on the game board.
Key Features
- Game Phases: The game is divided into different phases. Depending on the progress of the game, conditions change (e.g., the availability and price of resources).
- Market Dynamics: Pay attention to when you buy resources. Price and availability can be used strategically.
- Player Order: This changes after each round, affecting purchase and construction priorities.
Tips and Strategies
- Plan long-term: Power plants and cities can be expensive. Keep enough capital for future investments.
- Observe your competition: Which resources are they buying? Which cities are they targeting?
- Flexibility: Be ready to adjust your strategy if resources or connections become scarce.
Power Grid is a deep strategic game that requires planning, strategic thinking, and adaptability to be successful.
