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Description
In Santa Monica, you are trying to create the most appealing neighborhood in southern California. Will you choose to create a calm, quiet beach focused on nature, a bustling beach full of tourists, or something in-between to appeal to the locals?
Each turn, you draft a feature card from the display to build up either your beach or your street. These features work together to score you victory points. The player with the most points wins!
—description from the publisher
German:
In Santa Monica versuchst du, den attraktivsten Strandabschnitt in Südkalifornien zu schaffen. Entscheide dich für einen ruhigen, stillen Strand, der sich auf die Natur konzentriert, einen belebten Strand voller Touristen oder etwas dazwischen, das die Einheimischen anspricht?
In jedem Zug ziehst du eine Spielkarte aus der Auslage, um entweder den Strand oder die Straße in deinem Abschnitt zu erweitern. Aber nur, wenn Straße und Strand aufeinander abgestimmt sind, bekommst du genügend Siegpunkte, um das Spiel zu gewinnen!
—Beschreibung des Herausgebers
Year Published
2020
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 14
This page: 14
Sentiment:
pos 13 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–14 of 14
Video pLvhuyxnP2o
All You Can Board top_5_list at 8:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 63027 · mention_pk 156316
Click to watch at 8:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful artwork and theme
- tableau building on two levels
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the game out of every single on the list i recommend the highest
- it's a tableau builder where you're sort of building up the strip on santa monica
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video k0RaQGXI774
Allies or Enemies general_discussion at 0:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61151 · mention_pk 153689
Click to watch at 0:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible and visually appealing with a beachy vibe
- Multiple viable routes to score
- Rules are simple and quick to teach
Cons
- Box size is disproportionately large for contents
Thematic elements
- Vacation development and seaside leisure
- Boardwalk/Beach area in Santa Monica
- puzzle-light ambition with a pleasant thematic skin
Comparison games
- Cascadia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — draft from a four-by-two market and add chosen cards to a four-card tableau (boardwalk or beach areas)
- meeple movement and placement — move townies, tourists, and VIPs to activate actions and target scoring spots
- Resource management — earn sand dollars to influence actions or card selection
- resource/currency management — earn sand dollars to influence actions or card selection
- tableau building — place drafted cards into a growing tableau representing the town/beach area
- variable scoring via goals — end-of-round scoring with multiple pathways to victory based on card layout and goals
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's so beachy and it's all of these nice kind of beach pinks and blues and I just I love love love the look of it and I genuinely like the components as well the seashells
- Turns go really really quickly
- the best mobile art is great it's just it looks so uh it looks like the Pacific Northwest and it's so inviting
- the higher scoring cats are a lot harder for those goals to accomplish
- this game can be a little bit frustrating and it can be surprisingly mean for the cute animals that are on the front here
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wlXbqp4F37k
Allies or Enemies top_10_list at 5:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61141 · mention_pk 153652
Click to watch at 5:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great color palette and vibe
- pleasant summer atmosphere
- simple, approachable mechanics
Cons
- thematic depth may be lighter than heavier euros
Thematic elements
- tableau building, locals vs tourists
- Santa Monica beach-side area
- Array
- positive
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a light drafting racing game but it definitely has some summer vibes
- it's six different little mini timers
- it's bright and it's colorful and you are trying to defend the islands from oncoming monsters
- Banner Festival is a really interesting trick taking game
- it's all based on slasher movies
- the Heat is in the title
- Fireball Island ... the Curse of Volcar
- you flick marbles
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qYmY-2qWbn0
Allies or Enemies top_100_list at 21:51 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61159 · mention_pk 153725
Click to watch at 21:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- light, breezy, vacation-y feel
- great for social play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- city-building with tourists
- boardwalk vacation town
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Build a seaside town by drafting cards and placing actions to attract visitors.
- card drafting / action selection — Build a seaside town by drafting cards and placing actions to attract visitors.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i recommend this with ignorance is bliss
- star wars is my number one favorite anything i'm just obsessed with star wars
- this is a table hog of a two-player game
- no one owns it
- you can play this with new gamers because you can explain it very quickly
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7WK91N9Qr6o
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 50897 · mention_pk 139811
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- The two-direction tableau offers deep strategic possibilities while remaining visually intuitive, which helps players see the benefits of planning ahead without getting lost in overly complex bookkeeping.
- A seaside boardwalk theme is both evocative and approachable, lending the game strong thematic cohesion that can be attractive to families and hobbyists alike.
- Diverse actor types (VIPs, tourists, locals) introduce varied incentives and open up multiple viable paths to victory, increasing replayability and interaction.
- The emphasis on board aesthetics and urban design translates into satisfying tactile and visual feedback as players build their boards, which can be gratifying and immersive.
Cons
- The transcript provides no explicit drawbacks; potential limitations such as long playtime, component complexity, or occasional downtime are not discussed, so any assessment is speculative based on the described mechanics.
Thematic elements
- The core theme centers on urban development through leisure and tourism, with players acting as planners who shape a seaside community by constructing and populating a boardwalk that balances commercial and recreational spaces.
- Boardwalk and beach town environment inspired by Santa Monica, California, evoking sun-drenched promenades, colorful storefronts, and a lively boardwalk atmosphere.
- Lighthearted and aspirational, the narration emphasizes the sensory experiences of a seaside town—sun, sea breeze, crowds, music, and street life—while shaping strategic decisions in a competitive, friendly ambience.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- act and move resources (VIPs, tourists, locals) — Tokens or markers representing various social actors (VIPs, tourists, locals) are moved or activated to perform activities such as visiting markets, playing games, or engaging in beach activities. Each actor type provides different action options or scoring opportunities, enabling players to craft tailored strategies based on which actors they prioritize and how they sequence their turns.
- area-based scoring tied to aesthetics — Scoring rewards players for the overall layout and beauty of their boardwalk, encouraging careful consideration of visual appeal, balance among districts, and efficient use of space. The rhetoric of 'beauty' is reinforced through the mechanics that reward harmonious combinations, city-block style layouts, and scenic grouping of beach and street elements.
- tableau building — A central mechanic that allows players to expand their personal tableau not just in a single linear direction but in two distinct axes—along the street grid and along the beachfront. This dual-axis growth creates multiple, overlapping opportunities to place components, trigger actions, and optimize scoring potential. It also invites players to think spatially about how their board evolve over time, with tension between immediate gains and long-term alignment of streets and beach sections.
- two-direction tableau-building — A central mechanic that allows players to expand their personal tableau not just in a single linear direction but in two distinct axes—along the street grid and along the beachfront. This dual-axis growth creates multiple, overlapping opportunities to place components, trigger actions, and optimize scoring potential. It also invites players to think spatially about how their board evolve over time, with tension between immediate gains and long-term alignment of streets and beach sections.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a game where you'll be building a tableau that extends in two different directions
- the aim of the game is to try and make your Boardwalk as beautiful as possible
- the other plays are the seagulls
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ViK5k186z3M
Board Game Garden general_discussion at 12:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36020 · mention_pk 107847
Click to watch at 12:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cute, sketch-like art style that fits the theme
- Solid drafting engine with approachable rules
- Solid solo potential via fan variants noted by the player
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Pier development and tourism-driven scoring through card drafting.
- Santa Monica Pier, a coastal city with locals, VIPs, and tourists moving between locations.
- Sketchy, bright, beachy aesthetic with a lively vibe.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- drafting — Draft cards representing people and actions to develop your pier.
- Movement/placement of guests — Move locals, VIPs, and tourists between cards to optimize scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the art on the cards are absolutely stunning
- the cards are gorgeous
- I absolutely love the art in Similar
- the art in this game is so freaking cute
- Meadow is one that everyone talks about how beautiful the cards are
- the art is absolutely stunning
- the artwork is absolutely fabulous
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RGglnZNWaLI
Board Game Garden general_discussion at 6:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35284 · mention_pk 105280
Click to watch at 6:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful artwork and thematic cohesion
- Elegant combination of drafting and tableau
- Accessible to new players with rewarding decisions
Cons
- Learning curve for scoring nuances
- Can feel punishing if card flow doesn’t align
Thematic elements
- card drafting and tableau building to construct a pier
- Santa Monica pier and coastal cityscape
- competitive with strategic planning
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Draft cards from rows, choosing ones that fit your tableau strategy.
- card_drafting — Draft cards from rows, choosing ones that fit your tableau strategy.
- tableau building — Place cards to assemble a growing pier tableau and score through placement.
- tableau_building — Place cards to assemble a growing pier tableau and score through placement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it is so much fun oh my goodness it is just
- it has an app that actually like talks you through the story
- you are a crew on a pirate ship
- Sunset Over Water is published by Pencil First Games and it is an incredible game and you are painting photos or painting pictures
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video rOYyDyGpgjM
Board Game Garden top_10_list at 10:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 31659 · mention_pk 93270
Click to watch at 10:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful art and vibe
- engaging drafting and set collection flavor
- solo variant learned and accessible
Cons
- theme may feel light for some players
Thematic elements
- card drafting and tableau building in a seaside town
- Santa Monica pier and coastal vibe
- light, breezy, feel-good design
Comparison games
- Sagrada
- Isle of Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — draft cards to build your tableau of locals, tourists, and VIPs
- tableau building — place cards to optimize point scoring and chain effects
- worker movement (indirect) — move meeples across spaces via drafted cards
- worker placement — move meeples across spaces via drafted cards
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this solo variant is very much like that where Becky or Becca whatever the heck her name is you are just doing a few things back and forth with her
- the three different tracks you're going up and you're trying to bring all of these different rides into your park
- it's a really good like set collection game you're collecting different flowers and different bugs in order to gain some points
- i scored 50. so i don't know if i just scored it wrong but i was very proud of myself
- it's so easy at the table it's such a good puzzle
- i'm very excited to get cartographers and cartographers heroes to the table more
- this is one of my favorite solo games and i did play it in august
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pt3vikXr4j8
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:14 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 12443 · mention_pk 36343
Click to watch at 0:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Pleasant presentation and broad appeal
- Easy entry, short playtime
- Attractive components and theme
Cons
- Complex scoring with many options (point salad)
- Draft can block desirable moves
- Can be unforgiving if key cards are missed
Thematic elements
- Beachfront construction and tourism
- Boardwalk development in Santa Monica, Southern California
- abstract/neutral presentation of a thematic premise
Comparison games
- streets
- suburbia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_selection — On each turn, choose one of three objective cards to play with.
- card_exchange_and_power_tiles — Draft and replace cards; choose two of four power tiles, often involving coin expenditure.
- drafting — Draft one card from the display each turn, typically from the front four cards.
- meeple_management — Place and move meeples to score points via activities and icons.
- Resource management — Spend beach coins to activate powers on tiles.
- resource_management — Spend beach coins to activate powers on tiles.
- set collection — Score opportunities based on collecting cards that share icons.
- set_collection — Score opportunities based on collecting cards that share icons.
- tile placement — Place cards onto your personal board with connection rules and placement on either side of the starting building.
- tile_placement — Place cards onto your personal board with connection rules and placement on either side of the starting building.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Santa Monica is a quite simple drafting game with a pleasant presentation that will make it easy to get to the table
- it's a wily little beast of the game that will have you constantly lamenting your inability to get the cards you want and pondering deeply how to make the best out of a bad situation
- all up this is a nice looking game that has pretty broad appeal doesn't take too much time and is pretty thinky
- however, this is a full-blown point salad game and just about every placement can generate points in some way
- and due to the draft system sometimes there just isn't a good move you just have to live with that
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MzyZ6spGo9o
Things Get Dicey top_10_list at 0:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12130 · mention_pk 35491
Click to watch at 0:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Provides immersive experience of visiting Santa Monica
- Never need to leave house
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Travel/Vacation
- Beach/Boardwalk in Santa Monica
- Thematic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource management — Buying souvenirs and engaging in activities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a definitive list based on inarguable data - Board Game Geek lists 5000 games as having been released in 2020
- I haven't actually played forgotten waters but I did look at a lot of Instagram photos of it - 10 out of 10
- I just moved one piece on the board and I just knew it - about learning Barbary Wars history through The Shores of Tripoli
- Meeples but they're bees, so they call them peeples
- I really like this game called Tell Stones, you've probably never heard of it
- Board games are made out of cardboard, it's actually hard for your digestive system to handle cardboard
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0T4S6XlM7-s
Adam Porter Channel game_review at 3:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11688 · mention_pk 34289
Click to watch at 3:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful, atmospheric art and components
- Easy to teach with clear rules
- Satisfying feedback loop and tableau growth
- Strong central concept with accessible play
Cons
- Theme not strongly tied to mechanics
- Lower interaction and some players may prefer more tension
Thematic elements
- Tourism, beachfront development, and beach life
- Seaside city in Southern California (Santa Monica)
- Atmospheric, breezy, tableau-building ambience
Comparison games
- Sushi Go
- Calico
- Tiny Towns
- Love Letter
- Mystic Veil
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Draw meeples from your personal bag to assign actions.
- bag-building — Draw meeples from your personal bag to assign actions.
- Board/placement actions — Place feature cards on top/bottom rows to gain bonuses and move characters.
- card drafting — Choose feature cards from display to add to your tableau.
- end game bonuses — Score from footprints and activity bonuses; plan placements for end-game gain.
- End-game scoring and placement bonuses — Score from footprints and activity bonuses; plan placements for end-game gain.
- Resource management — Earn sand dollars to spend on abilities.
- Resource management / Currency — Earn sand dollars to spend on abilities.
- tableau building — Arrange built cards to form your display and score.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- jeremy nagoyan's santa monica artwork is sublime with its muted colors humor and clarity it's transportive you can almost hear the seagulls this is a game with atmosphere
- i don't find point salad attractive but i do get it clarity over personality
- Meeples and monsters once again disappoints this rule book is weak
- the rules reference promo items which i don't have access to
- the rule book is perhaps the most important element in an onboarding process
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XF17e6woWKI
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 0:51 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8755 · mention_pk 95476
Click to watch at 0:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- dense euro design with clear engine-building paths
- high interactivity and tense blocking dynamics
Cons
- potentially harsh for casual players
- teaching curve may be steep for newcomers
Thematic elements
- economic network building and engine growth
- roads between trading posts and a networked trade system
- procedural engine-building with competitive blocking
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area interaction — competitive blocking to hinder opponents and accelerate your own tempo
- engine building — removing pieces from a personal board to increase action yields and point generation
- engine-building — removing pieces from a personal board to increase action yields and point generation
- Network/route building — deploying C tues and discs on roads to establish presence between posts
- route/road building — deploying C tues and discs on roads to establish presence between posts
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- board gaming Perfection such a an intricate and nuanced design
- the best negotiation game out there
- fast so engaging
- I can't find a fault with this game it is just so much fun
- one of the original area control style games
- the time track system I've ever seen
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pDJmuDW8pTM
Adam Porter top_10_list at 1:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2610 · mention_pk 7711
Click to watch at 1:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clear forward planning
- accessible drafting
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Seven Wonders Duel
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — cards from a bottom row shift into play as top row cards drop, constraining choices.
- card drafting / dynamic reveal — cards from a bottom row shift into play as top row cards drop, constraining choices.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- positional drafting is one really clever way of reducing the number of available choices
- you've got limited choices which is great because it means you're not going to sit there for ages thinking about all these options
- catch-up mechanism is essential in any game really
- i really enjoy real-time mechanism when it works and when it's simple when i understand what's going on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VwVs5egZsM4
Adam's Board Game Wales top_10_list at 0:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2289 · mention_pk 6649
Click to watch at 0:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- stunning art style and whimsical design
- beautiful box and production
- lovely meeple placements with character
- simple mechanics with elegant execution
- variable scoring through different card combinations
- creates beautiful overall pictures
- great adjacency-based scoring
Cons
- simple mechanics may not appeal to complexity seekers
- limited player interaction during play
Thematic elements
- seafront_development
- california_beach_life
- city_building
- whimsical_characters
Comparison games
- Calico
- Point Salad
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- adjacency_scoring
- card drafting
- card_drafting
- Compound Scoring
- special_abilities
- tile placement
- tile_placement
- worker placement
- worker_placement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i'm adam porter and this is my board gaming vlog and it's my annual top 10 board games of the year
- this is not an authoritative list of the best games of the year or anything like that it is just the 10 games that i've enjoyed the most
- the game is ultimately endlessly replayable even though there's only something like nine different final solutions
- i find the game thoroughly entertaining
- this is exactly the sort of game i wish i could design something that simple that streamlined that looks that beautiful
- this game pretty much got us through lockdown
- it's gone immediately right to the top as far as my wife is concerned this is one of her favorite games of all time
- i'm really hoping for a better 2021
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–14 of 14