Tolleno Review: Quick Take with Tom Vasel

About Tolleno, from BoardGameGeek:

IMPORTANT: The game is intended for players aged 10 and up, but a family-friendly rule (for ages 8 and up) is also included! Immerse yourself in the enchanting warmth of Southern Europe and discover the thriving city of Tolleno! Here, bold builders and visionary strategists vie for dominance over streets and canals, each move expanding their influence. In Tolleno, every structure is an opportunity, and each canal a pathway to power. Challenge your rivals and leave your mark by shaping this unique city in your image. Become more than a builder-claim your place as the master of Tolleno! In Tolleno, players compete to score the most victory points by strategically expanding a shared city, constructing buildings, and leveraging the movement of their boat to outmaneuver opponents. The game begins with players setting up a central city composed of four connected tiles, along with a supply of city and market tiles ready for placement. Each player receives their own set of building pieces, a boat, and some starting victory points based on turn order. On each turn, players have a range of actions to perform. They can expand the city by placing a new tile, construct buildings by stacking their pieces on valid spaces, or enhance their strategy by placing market tiles, which grant immediate points. Additionally, once their boat is unlocked, players can move it across the board to relocate building pieces or block opponents from expanding into key areas. The interplay of these actions creates a dynamic and interactive experience as players compete for control of the city. The game ends when one player places their final building piece, triggering a final scoring phase. Victory points are calculated based on control of city tiles, the strategic placement of market tiles, and special conditions from player boards or the central starting market tile. Tolleno is further enriched by its advanced mode, which introduces custom scoring conditions unique to each player, adding an extra layer of depth and strategy. Combining tile placement, area control, and tactical movement, Tolleno offers a thoughtful and engaging challenge for players who enjoy strategic planning and dynamic competition. -description from the publisher