Kyoto Board Game – Money or Environment?

I’m sure you are all familiar with the Kyoto Accord at this point, and if not…well, look it up. In Kyoto the board game, players will choose to represent one of several countries included in the game, and do their best to represent the interests of their country while also attempting – or not caring in some situations – about the environment as well. Players will have to balance the desires of big business that makes the profits, with the desires of their people for a clean and sustainable environment. Can you make the best decisions?

Components

I’ve always hated games that require me to build something out of cardboard prior to playing, and my beef isn’t with the building portion, but rather how well that cardboard will hold up over time. We’ve played Kyoto numerous times over the last month – 5 or 6 I believe – and the cardboard desk that you build is as good as it was on day one, which is fantastic. And that great quality carries over to the other components in the game, including the million dollar bills, the fantastic cards, and the screens each player uses to hide their stuff. In terms of quality, we have no complaints!

How to Play

This is a light overview of how to play – please see the games rules for more information. Before we jump into the mechanics of the game, let’s see what the games website says:

Kyoto takes players straight into one of the burning issues of our time: climate change — and not with a wagging finger, but by placing them into the shoes of the decision makers. As delegates from different countries, players will face a few quick rounds of negotiation at a climate conference. Together, they try to hit reduction targets and provide the needed funding, knowing that each round they fail to do so they will inflict severe damage on the planet. But determined on preserving their own country’s wealth and following their secret agendas, none of them may be eager to give more than absolutely necessary. After all, the winner will be the player who best preserves their wealth…unless the impending damage to earth becomes too severe, in which case the conference fails immediately and the greediest player can’t win.

After choosing their country and acquiring the correct number of cards and moneys, players begin debating various topics, chosen from the deck. Each topic or issue will have a requirement that needs to be met – generally a combination of funds and a set amount of carbon. If the issue is dealt with, nothing happens and play proceeds to the next player. If for whatever reason the issue is NOT dealt with, bad things happen, some of which were public to everyone and some of which is only known to the player presenting the issue. This could be the extinction of animals, increase in the earths temperature, and more.

Players will work to protect their interests based on the cards they received at the beginning of the game. For example, if you are being lobbied hard by the auto industry, you might want to make sure that carbon cards with the automobile icon are not played to satisfy carbon emission targets. You might lose points at the end of the game. And that’s where the games next mechanic kicks in – bribery.

Bribing folks is a lot of fun. Using the example above, if player A wants to support the auto industry, and player B puts forward a card that has an automobile icon on it, Player A can attempt to bribe player B to retract that card. This must all be done within the allotted time – when time runs out, everything must stop.

This is a rough overview of what you’ll do, but rest assured, there is never a dull moment.

Review

So the mechanics are great and the components are outstanding, but is Kyoto fun? Yes and no. If you can only get 3 people around the table to play, Kyoto is likely to fall flat. There really isn’t enough here to keep people bribing, and it’s more of a protect your own interests if possible, but don’t over extend to do it. Once you add in 4, 5 or even 6+ players, things get a lot more interesting. The bribery was at an all time high for us, and there was something exhilarating about protecting your interests and bribing others to get it done.

Kyoto is a game of bribery and decision making. One wrong move could cost you a win, and that isn’t an exaggeration. Just like real world politicians that need to navigate these items, you will need to as well. If you enjoy fast paced, aggressive games, Kyoto will be one for you!