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Description
Jackhammers chattering, trucks beeping, engines roaring, the sounds of construction are everywhere. Sprawlopolis is growing and YOU are in charge of it all. The last team of planners couldn't cut it, so the city turned to your team, the best of the best. If anyone can turn this tiny town into a thriving civic center it's you.
In Sprawlopolis, 1-4 players work together to build a new city from the ground up. Using only 18 cards and a variable scoring system, the game is never the same twice. Each turn, players will play 1 card from their hand to the growing city, trying to score as many points as possible. Players will have to communicate and plan without revealing their own cards in order to most efficiently develop large areas in each of the 4 zone types. Watch out though, the city hates paying for road maintenance so each road will cost you points in the end. When all cards have been placed, the game ends and players see if they have met dynamically generated minimum score for their game. Can you meet the demands of the officials, work with your fellow planners and build the ultimate urban wonder? It’s time to find out!
—description from the publisher
Released in the June 2018 Board Game of the Month Club $20+ package.
Year Published
2018
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 8
This page: 8
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–8 of 8
Video Q5yz8tacjBs
Unknown Channel playthrough at 0:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61580 · mention_pk 154220
Click to watch at 0:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Portable and compact for on-the-go play
- Quick play sessions (roughly 10-15 minutes)
- Engaging puzzle with spatial planning
- Accessible for solo play and easy to explain rules
Cons
- Loop construction can be challenging and require planning
- Scoring can feel tight or punishing if not optimized
- Some cards can subtract points
- Can produce leftover loose roads that incur penalties
Thematic elements
- urban planning scoring with largest-area bonuses and goal-card scoring
- city-building grid with parks, suburbs, residential blocks, and industrial/commercial zones
- explanatory playthrough commentary
Comparison games
- Ugly Griffin Inn
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Goal cards with +/- points — three goal cards drawn that add points or penalties.
- hand management — start with a starting tile and a three-card hand; draw from pile.
- Loop/road-building objective — create loops of roads connecting parks; loops grant extra points.
- Network/route building — create loops of roads connecting parks; loops grant extra points.
- Scoring by largest group per type — points for the largest connected region of parks, suburbs, industrial, residential, and commercial areas.
- Starting tile and hand management — start with a starting tile and a three-card hand; draw from pile.
- tile placement — place city cards edge-to-edge to form connected zones.
- tile/card placement — place city cards edge-to-edge to form connected zones.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is my first ever Buttonshy game.
- It's going to be so fun.
- This is such a perfect game to bring with you, whip it out. You can play it basically anywhere.
- Honestly, this is such a perfect game to bring with you, whip it out. You can play it basically anywhere.
- I think Strawopolis is probably one of the Buttonshy games I was looking forward to trying the most.
- So next up we're going to try Ugly Griffin Inn.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video lKYxCA--A_M
Allies or Enemies general_discussion at 3:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61165 · mention_pk 153765
Click to watch at 3:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Incredibly compact, yet dense for a co-op city-builder
- High replayability from different three-card scoring setups
Cons
- Quite challenging despite tiny footprint
Thematic elements
- Urban planning and scoring through districts and roads
- Cooperative city-building using limited cards
- Abstract, puzzle-like
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — Each game uses a subset of three cards with different scoring rules
- Cooperative drafting / placement — Use 18 cards to collaboratively draft a city layout
- variable scoring — Each game uses a subset of three cards with different scoring rules
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- parade would be my number one because i love this game
- this is like the best bang for your buck you're gonna find
- it's an absolute blast
- it's so worth it
- this has been the game of the summer for us
- we've played this like most nights this summer
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dh_7TD-3KJs
No Pun Included general_discussion at 0:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33808 · mention_pk 100606
Click to watch at 0:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Referenced as a recognizable example of light/reassuring board game content in contrast to more critical reviews
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- not specified in the episode
- not specified in the episode
- not specified in the episode
Comparison games
- The King is Dead
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hello my name is efka this is bessie and i'm elaine
- we have a little board game channel called nope included
- reviewing board games is the best thing i have ever done in my life
- our channel is supported by our patrons
- we've decided to simply ask you to support us at whatever level you feel is right
- narrative storytelling in board games through the lens of ryan lockett's sleeping gods
- sharp criticism like our videos for horizon zero dawn
- feel-good reviews like sprolopolis
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uA0X3K95fq8
Unknown top_10_list at 4:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 31185 · mention_pk 91938
Click to watch at 4:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Extremely compact and portable; powerful city-building feel in a pocket format
- High replayability due to multiple hidden objectives and variable scoring
- Fast setup and approachable to teach in a few minutes
Cons
- Negative scoring for roads can punish aggressive expansion
- Abstract theme may not appeal to players seeking a more thematic experience
Thematic elements
- City-building, planning, and dynamic neighborhoods
- Urban planning on a compact 18-card grid; pocket sized
- Abstract, puzzle-like, evolving city layout; iterative until score victory
Comparison games
- Suburbia
- Quadropolis
- Between Two Cities
- Le Havre
- Glasgow
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card placement — Place one card at a time; cards can be laid horizontally and can be overlapped by later cards.
- Cooperative with individual competition — Players work towards a shared city while individual scoring nuances influence decisions.
- Hidden scoring objectives — At the start, three cards are set aside with unique scoring conditions; final scoring relies on these hidden objectives.
- Negative scoring via roads — Building new roads can incur negative points, balancing growth and strategic placement.
- passing cards — Players pass two cards to the next player, managing flow and planning with teammates.
- Variable scoring & grid interaction — Scoring depends on neighborhood types, adjacency, and the interplay of placement decisions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sprolopolis is a game of hubris it seems
- it's a game of 18 cards and no compromise
- you can't show your cards to any other players
- the entire thing feels like it's about to tilt 45 degrees
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cSFglTR4qVE
Foster the Meeple collection_tour at 8:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11916 · mention_pk 34964
Click to watch at 8:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible, robust solo mode; quick rounds
Cons
- Can require thinking in short bursts; objective tracking important
Thematic elements
- urban development with objective-based layouts
- city-building puzzle with modular cards
- puzzle-forward; abstract city-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting / city-building — players place cards to satisfy objectives while building out a city grid
- solo or multiplayer scoring — playable solo or up to four players with shared goals and competition
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm super into button shy
- these two bags are full so I'm going to show you all of the button shy games that I currently own
- I freaking love it
- If you haven't tried button shy I highly highly recommend that you give it a go
- there's so many options for travel and storage; wallet games are perfect for on-the-go
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0rglYs7y8A0
Cardboard Herald top_14_list at 1:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10189 · mention_pk 30002
Click to watch at 1:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Extremely portable and quick to play
- High replayability due to modular boards
Cons
- May feel light for players seeking heavier puzzle games
Thematic elements
- Urban planning with constraints
- Modular city-building puzzle
- compact and abstract
Comparison games
- Cartographers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Each card determines streets or blocks you place to score
- tile placement — Place streets and blocks to satisfy increasingly tough goals
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Spirit Island still an absolute Banger
- I love the sense of agency that you have in the game
- Arc Nova absolutely took my heart away
- Kabuto Sumo with 31 plays in a year
- the game that I knew was going to be up here
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GIBNq6AuHCg
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 35:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9448 · mention_pk 27917
Click to watch at 35:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Very brain-burning puzzle with straightforward rules
- Flexible starter option in wallet-game format
Cons
- Difficulty spike can be high for new players
Thematic elements
- Efficient city planning through card-placement
- Urban planning and city-block design
- Brain-burning puzzle with simple rules
Comparison games
- Score(s) of Satellite
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Brain-burning scoring — Conditions on cards drive a tough but fair scoring puzzle
- Card layout to build a city — Lay city cards to satisfy scoring conditions while balancing overlaps
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's very thematic, basically a gamification of the process of creating a character in DND
- the AI opponent is very smooth and doesn't take a lot of upkeep
- it's one page front and back, that's it very, very simple rules
- this is known as a raw and ripe game and it's a pretty beloved genre
- the universe games come with mini expansion modules that add replayability
- an 18-card masterpiece
- print this right here to turn it into a flip and ride game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EPdIXkwUeug
Design Games game_review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 127 · mention_pk 354
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy to learn and highly portable due to wallet-size components
- strong solo puzzle appeal with satisfying end-game scoring
- compact design with expandable content via expansions
Cons
- multiplayer can feel non-interactive; alpha player dominance can reduce tension
- limited interaction and a relatively small card pool can limit in-game variety
Thematic elements
- Urban planning and city design with light storytelling through scoring objectives
- A portable city-building puzzle where players place cards to create blocks and road networks
- Minimal thematic narrative tied to scoring objectives
Comparison games
- Sushi Go
- Point Salad
- Honshu
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Each turn you play a card and pass the remaining two to your neighbor, choosing from a small set to influence layout.
- end-game scoring based on designated criteria — Scoring cards selected at the start determine end-game scoring categories; points are awarded for blocks, roads, and other criteria.
- solo puzzle mode — In solo, you play against a fixed challenge by drawing and placing to reach a target score.
- tile/card placement — Place cards adjacent or overlapping to form terrain blocks and road networks.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Button Shy's product is the real product here rather than any one individual game.
- Sprawlopolis is an addictive little activity, especially when played solo.
- I like the core mechanism at play in Tassimasi; it's a very clever drafting system.
- This is really a magazine model with committed fans likely to collect every new release from the company.
- Portability is a huge plus for Sprawlopolis and its wallet-sized siblings.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–8 of 8