Capone: The Business of Prohibition (2021)

About this game

In 1920’s Chicago, two things are certain: Prohibition has the whole population clamoring for a drink, and there’s only one man who can supply it. Al Capone. Secret bars all over town are making back-alley deals with Capone’s thugs to get the booze they need to satisfy their thirsty patrons and keep themselves in business. Capone combines card drafting, auctions, anything-goes trading, and set collection. Each player is the proprietor of an underground speakeasy. Players bid on trucks of booze coming in over the course of the evening to get the hooch they need to satisfy their eager patrons. There are no turns and play is centered around anything-goes negotiation. Does someone have a bottle you need? Make them an offer. Can’t fill the order of one of your patrons? Maybe another bar can; work a deal with that bar owner that’s beneficial to both of you. Capone will be keeping tabs on the operation too, so make sure to keep him happy. The bar that has the most money at the end of the night wins! -description from designer

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 5.
• Rules load. At 1.2/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 14 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.