Shadows of Macao (2019)

About this game

In the underbelly of Macao, city of crimes, the local mafia’s Boss is dead, leading to a power vacuum. The Boss’s widow has put you in charge of the family business. Will you develop your shady activities into a true criminal empire? There’s only a single seat available at the top… Shadows over Macao is an engine-building game where players extend their empire by using shifty informants and establishments of ill reputation. During their turn, each player can do one of three things: contact an informant and receive their card that can be used to produce resources; spend these resources to recruit an informant permanently in their triad, and activate their special power; or build one of the available establishments. The game accelerates as the players build their engine, until each choice becomes critical to your victory! The game ends when a player has recruited a total of 7 members in their triad, or if there are no more establishments available. Each building is worth a certain amount of money, and the richest player wins!

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 1.5/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 10 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.