Medici board game review: "Friendly competition"

GamesRadar+ VerdictMedici is the rare game with enough strategy to satisfy serious board game enthusiasts but mechanics simple enough to teach casual players. Its competitive auctions and card counting works best with a full table of six players, offering a fast and streamlined experience that’s lacking in the more confrontational and luck-based smaller games.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$29.95at AmazonPros+Easy to teach, providing an introduction to auction games+Gameplay is very fast and dynamic+A great option for six playersCons-Not enough player aid cards-New ship tokens don’t fit well on the board GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Medici is the rare game with enough strategy to satisfy serious board game enthusiasts but mechanics simple enough to teach casual players. Its competitive auctions and card counting works best with a full table of six players, offering a fast and streamlined experience that’s lacking in the more confrontational and luck-based smaller games.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$29.95at Amazon Medici is the rare game with enough strategy to satisfy serious board game enthusiasts but mechanics simple enough to teach casual players. Its competitive auctions and card counting works best with a full table of six players, offering a fast and streamlined experience that’s lacking in the more confrontational and luck-based smaller games. TODAY’S BEST DEALS$29.95at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$29.95at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$29.95at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS $29.95at Amazon $29.95at Amazon $29.95at Amazon Pros+Easy to teach, providing an introduction to auction games+Gameplay is very fast and dynamic+A great option for six players Easy to teach, providing an introduction to auction games Gameplay is very fast and dynamic A great option for six players Cons-Not enough player aid cards-New ship tokens don’t fit well on the board Not enough player aid cards New ship tokens don’t fit well on the board Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Jump to:Features & designGameplayShould you buy it?How we tested Jump to:Features & designGameplayShould you buy it?How we tested Reiner Knizia released Medici back in 1995 as part of a trilogy that helped establish the auction board game genre. Fast-forward a couple of decades and Steamforged Games has rereleased the classic, where two to six players take on the role of rival merchants in 16th century Florence bidding for goods to fill their cargo ships and maximize their profits. While Steamforged has updated the art, it’s kept all the core gameplay the same. So, is this old favorite worth revisiting now? And does it still deserve a place on lists of must-haveclassic board games? Medici features & design Swipe to scroll horizontallyPrice$39.99 / £39.99Ages10+GenreAuctionComplexityLowPlayers2 - 6Lasts60minsDesignerReiner KniziaPublisherSteamforged GamesPlay if you likePower Grid, Ra, the Renaissance Swipe to scroll horizontally Price$39.99 / £39.99Ages10+GenreAuctionComplexityLowPlayers2 - 6Lasts60minsDesignerReiner KniziaPublisherSteamforged GamesPlay if you likePower Grid, Ra, the Renaissance The new Medici also gives each player a stylish ship token that’s meant to be their points tracker, but they don’t actually fit on the board if more than one person has the same score, which is especially common early in the game. We wound up just using extra player counters instead in my game sessions, leaving the boats as decorations on our individual boards. (Image credit: Samantha Nelson) The game has a set of 36 cards, all but one representing the game’s core commodities: cloth, spice, grain, dye, and fur. Each is valued at 0 to 5 points and there’s a special gold card that’s valued at 10 points but doesn’t impact the commodity track. With six players, you use all 36 cards every round. Fewer players means that cards rotate in and out randomly between the three rounds. The ability to count cards is baked into the game when you have more players, creating a press-your-luck mechanic if you’re hoping to see the gold card or a specific commodity. The element adds extra strategy not found in the more randomized smaller games. There’s little margin for error, but if your strategy doesn’t work well, the game at least ends quickly There’s little margin for error, but if your strategy doesn’t work well, the game at least ends quickly The cards are tiny, which is fine for representing the commodities and their values but works poorly with the player aid cards. There’s only one of each, and while one is only used at the beginning of the game to determine the deck size, it would be nice to at least have a few more of the cards showing the points awarded for each rank to share around a big table so everyone could better determine how many of their own points to bid based on the prizes up for grabs. Medici gameplay (Image credit: Samantha Nelson) Each player then has one chance to either pass on the lot or place a bid. Since your points are your bidding resources, the key is to try to puzzle out a number that will disincentivize other players from outbidding you or push your opponents to spend more on something you expect them to buy anyways. The best strategy depends on where in the order of bidding you are, how much space you have in your ship and what your goals for the round are. After each round of bidding, the winner puts their cards in their hold and the first player token passes. Bidding early gives less flexibility, as you’re locked out of later bids if you can’t fit them in your hold. An auction creator can strategically dole out two or three cards to limit the number of people who can participate or just keep the bidding at one card to make it as hotly contested as possible. Medici’s blend of strategy and speed demonstrates why it remains a classic nearly two decades after its release Medici’s blend of strategy and speed demonstrates why it remains a classic nearly two decades after its release When all but one player has a full hold, that last player fills their board with cards randomly dealt from the top of the deck. These cards might be useless but sometimes you can get lucky and get exactly the cards you need without having to pay any florins at all! However, if the deck runs out entirely, players can be forced to sail with empty cargo space, which is almost never worth the florins they’re saving. (Image credit: Samantha Nelson) While the point values are reset each round, players build lasting dominance based on how much of each commodity they acquired, moving player tokens up a track for each product in the center of the board. Players who have acquired four to six of a given commodity over the course of the game rack up extra points at the end of every round. This provides the opportunity for individual strategy as players already invested in a commodity might be willing to pay more for even a low value card that will push them further up that track, at least until the point where they max it out and that good becomes worthless to them again. Each player will often focus on one or two key commodities, creating rivals for dominance in the category. The center board features a series of tokens that can be flipped to represent when each of the commodities has been scored for the round and a small stack of round tokens making it very easy to keep track of the game status. The game only lasts three rounds so there’s little margin for error, but if your strategy doesn’t work well, the game at least ends quickly. Should you buy Medici? (Image credit: Samantha Nelson) If you have a good-sized group looking for a light warm up or palate cleanser between heavier games or want to present an alternative for the lighter titles you usually play, Medici is a good option to add to your collection. It’s easy to learn and quick to play, keeping players engaged throughout the round with a dynamic bidding process sure to spark some friendly competition. While Medici has a two player mode, that’s not where this game shines. Some of the design choices for the new version are better conceptually than practically. But if you can regularly muster five or six players, Medici’s blend of strategy and speed demonstrates why it remains a classic nearly two decades after its release. Buy it if… ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅You regularly play with a large group looking for a satisfying but light gameWant a break from 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride? Medici offers an easy taste of the auction genre ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. ✅ You like a bit of friendly competition with dynamic strategyPuzzling out how your fellow players will value each card and pushing them to spend the maximum amount of resources is the key to victory. Don’t buy it if… ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You mostly play two-player gamesWhile Medici can be played with two people, it’s a very different and fairly unsatisfying experience that’s far more luck based. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. ❌ You prefer longer games with a lot of complexityEven with six players, Medici wraps up in about an hour so if you want a game you can really sink your teeth into, it might not be satisfying. How we tested Medici Disclaimer You can learn more on this process in our guide tohow we test board games and tabletop RPGs, or the more general GamesRadar+reviews policypage. Medici: Price Comparison 1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆ ☆☆☆☆☆ $29.95View $29.95View $29.95View $29.95View $29.95 $29.95 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 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bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”