Players: 2-6 (Best for 4-5, Recommended for 3-6)
Playing time: 120 minutes
Rating on BoardGameGeek: 8.15303
Description: Power Grid is the updated release of the Friedemann Friese crayon game Funkenschlag. The latest cooperative publishing effort from Friedemann Friese and Rio Grande Games, removes the crayon aspect from network building in the original edition while retaining the fluctuating commodities market like McMulti and an auction round intensity reminiscent of The Princes of Florence.
The object of Power Grid is to supply the most cities with power when someone's network gains a predetermined size. In this new edition, players mark pre-existing routes between cities for connection, and then bid against each other to purchase the power plants that they use to power their cities.
However, as plants are purchased, newer more efficient plants become available, so by merely purchasing you're potentially allowing others access to superior equipment.
Additionally, players must acquire the raw materials (coal, oil, garbage and uranium) needed to power said plants (except for the 'renewable' windfarm/ solar plants which require no fuel), making it a constant struggle to upgrade your plants for maximum efficiency while still retaining enough wealth to quickly expand your network to get the cheapest routes.
Power Grid FAQ - Please read this before posting a rules question! Many questions are asked over and over in the forums.
This entry is for the original Power Grid; for the new French printing by Filosfia, go to Mégawatts.
Re-implements:
Funkenschlag
Re-implemented by:
Funkenschlag - EnBW Edition
Mégawatts
Expanded by:
Power Grid - Italy/France
Power Grid - Benelux/Central Europe
Funkenschlag Atolla Modulis
Power Grid - Power Plant Deck 2
Power Grid - Korea/China
Funkenschlag - Flux-Generator
The expansions Power Grid - Italy/France, Power Grid - Benelux/Central Europe and Power Grid - Korea/China include new double-sided game boards. These change the game by not only changing the characteristics of the geography, but also by changing the rules for power plant availability, resource availability, tying plant ownership and/or resource availability and/or price to geographic regions on the map, etc.
Mechanics: Route/Network Building, Auction/Bidding
Categories: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing