51st State cover
2010BGG rank #2,184

51st State

by Ignacy Trzewiczek · Portal Games

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Players2–4
Time40–90m
ComplexityMedium
Age10+

About the game

What is 51st State?

The world you know no longer exists. There is no government. No army. No civilization. The United States have collapsed. And now, thirty years after the war started, new powers finally try to take control over the ruined country, try to establish a new order, try to control others and create a new country, a new State: the 51st State. 51st State is a card game in which players control one of the four powers (mutants, traders, New Yorkers and Appalachians) and try to build their very own new country. Players put new locations into the game, they hire leaders, and send people to work in buildings to gain resources and new skills. Every card in 51st State can be put into play in three different ways. You can invade a location to gain many resources once, or you can sign a contract with this location to gain one resource every turn, or you can attach the location to your State so you can use its skill. One card, three possibilities. Lots of decisions and choices that matter.

How it plays

Mechanics

Hand ManagementOpen DraftingVariable Player Powers

On the shelf

Categories

Card GameCity BuildingEconomicScience Fiction

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in 51st State?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?