Capitals of Tactoria

From BoardGameGeek:

Players compete to claim the throne of a fallen empire by crowning their city as the sole Imperial Capital. Capitals of Tactoria is a strategic, card-based kingdom builder where each player develops a personal city tableau while closely observing the growth and intentions of their rivals. On each turn, players play cards to expand their kingdom with buildings, troops, and special characters. Some cards are played face up, revealing city structures and long-term strategies, while others remain hidden, concealing military strength and unique abilities. This mix of open and hidden information allows players to anticipate opponents’ plans without ever having full certainty. The game is quick to set up and easy to learn, yet grows increasingly deep as more cards enter play and kingdoms take shape. Smaller, well-constructed cities can outperform larger ones through efficient combinations and timing. Each decision pushes a city further in a chosen direction, gradually forming a distinct strategic identity based on the cards played. Alongside city development, players upgrade their capital through a shared progression, racing toward the highest tier. Each upgrade unlocks new bonuses and abilities, with multiple viable paths to the top. Combat is always a looming threat, but entirely player-driven—attacking at the wrong moment can weaken an army as much as it harms an opponent. Victory comes from carefully balancing kingdom building, capital upgrades, and the tactical use of military force. —description from the publisher