Disclaimer: This preview is from a reviewer’s copy of the game that was provided by Button Shy Games to Open Seat Gaming, but opinions are our own based on several plays of the game. Components may not be final.

Game: Supertall
Publisher: Button Shy
Designer: Nathaniel Levan
Artist: Martin Cobb
Main Game Mechanisms: Hand Management, City Building, Take That
Number of Players: 2 or 3
Game Time: 10 to 15 minutes

Description: Now that the city of Sprawlopolis has been established, the builders of the city now have their eyes to the skies! It’s time to build some skyscrapers and show the city skyline off to all of the cities around it!

In Supertall, you’re a builder that has been given multiple plots of land to build skyscrapers on (2 in a 3 player game; 3 in a 2 player game). You will be drawing cards from different piles and you have 3 options for each card that you pull.

1. Build onto one of your skyscrapers. Your next level on a skyscraper has to be of an equal or greater tax assessment value (each one has a $ value) in order for you to build it.
2. The thing is, you don’t want the opposing builders to get as much recognition for their skyscrapers, either. So, each of the cards also has a special ability that you can use instead of putting it on your building. (You cannot use the last card of the game’s ability).
3. You can scrap the card onto City Hall, which is situated between the building areas.

Every card that you pull is filled with choices that you have to make. Will you add to your skyscrapers? Or are you going to sabotage your neighbor’s plans? Or will you throw it on City Hall in hopes you can get it back with another card’s ability later on?

The game ends when all cards have been played. Scoring is relatively simple. If you didn’t get an even number of turns, the person who had fewer turns gets one point. The person with the tallest skyscraper gets 2 points.

Then, you use the scoring criteria listed on the top of each skyscraper that you’ve built, add up your scores, and see who has the highest score and will be declared the Supertall champion architect.

Review: Supertall is a super quick game, which is something that I absolutely love about it. If you want to get a quick city-building game in where you can build a neat little set of skyscrapers, this is totally the one to get. It makes you think about every move that you’re making in order to ensure that you are doing everything possible to be the best architect.

It took me a couple of plays to really get into the rhythm of how to play the game well, but I think that’s because it’s a very tactical game. You have to be ready to change your strategy up when things change (and they change quite often) and you have to think several turns ahead. As a result, it may feel like a chess game where you’re trying to outsmart and outplay your opponent, which I also found to be a great part of the gameplay.

If you’re someone that enjoys take-that and screwing your neighbor over when they’re trying to build the best building, but you only like it in small doses, this is definitely for you. It gives you that taste of a take that game without beating the daylights out of each other for a few hours.

The only thing that I think I would add is some goals or something that you can work toward other than the 2 point bonus for having the tallest skyscraper. I love having things to shoot for when I’m playing any sort of city building game, so that’s something that I would be all about. Maybe that’s something that they can consider adding in an expansion in the future!

Kickstarter Details: If you like games where you can put pressure on your opponents while they’re trying to build up their tableau, Supertall is definitely a game for you.

Supertall is on Kickstarter RIGHT NOW! The campaign ends on Saturday, June 30th, so be sure that you get in on it ASAP. The campaign also has a small expansion included, with additional cards to make building your buildings even more exciting!

Game On!
Marti