#48: New Frontiers (Mark's Top 50 - 2020)

New Frontiers

BoardGameGeek

• rank: 748
• rating: 7.70

Print Status

• in print

Why It's On The List

• I wouldn't go as far to say that New Frontiers has fired the classic Puerto Rico... but it covers a lot of the same ground with better graphics and a more compelling theme. 

Tips & Tricks:

• New Frontiers does not seem to have the same "newbie automatically assists player to their left" problem as Puerto Rico... but players still need to pay careful attention to the downstream effects of their action choices.
• Don't put all your point-scoring eggs in one basket - especially when it comes to the 9 cost technologies. I have been known to buy a 9 cost tech that was only marginal for me in order to keep it out of the hands of someone who could really benefit from it.
• The Starry Rift expansion is due out later this year... I'm looking forward to it! It will add 16 home worlds, 10 developments, 13 worlds, and 8 goals - and Xeno worlds will add a risk/reward element to military conquest.

Extras

• This is the first of five (5!) Tom Lehmann games that will appear on my top 50 list this time around... and the first of 3 Race for the Galaxy universe games. Sue me.