5 Towers, designed by Kasper Lapp, invites players to compete as master architects, constructing their own sets of five distinct towers. The game combines bidding, resource management, and a touch of spatial puzzle-solving. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, the game ultimately feels a bit light, offering fun moments but lacking the depth to make it a must-have. It’s a pleasant diversion, but it may not stand tall among more robust offerings.
Stacking Cards with Style
The theme of constructing towers is straightforward and functional. Each tower has a unique identity, represented by distinct card colors and symbols—from candy towers to sand towers. The visual design by Annika Heller is vibrant and appealing, making the game inviting, especially for family or casual settings.
The components consist of 110 cards featuring bright, bold colors that stand out on the table. The rules are well-organized, and the simple setup ensures players can dive in quickly. While the theme is lightly applied, the presentation does enough to convey the game’s concept and make it enjoyable to interact with.
Gameplay: Bidding and Building with Constraints
The core mechanics of 5 Towers revolve around a mix of bidding and building. Each round, players bid on cards to add to their towers, with constraints on how cards are placed:
Bidding: Players compete for cards in a display, choosing how many cards they want and balancing risk versus reward.
Building: Cards must be placed in descending value order within each tower, creating a spatial puzzle.
Teardown and Penalty: Players can remove cards from their towers but incur increasing penalties for doing so.
While these mechanics create interesting decisions, the gameplay loop can feel repetitive. The tension in bidding is often mitigated by limited stakes, and the building constraints, though clever, lack the complexity to keep players deeply engaged over multiple sessions.
Quick Fun with Limited Replayability
5 Towers shines as a quick, family-friendly game that’s easy to teach and play. Its accessible mechanics and vibrant visuals make it a great choice for casual gamers. The bidding phase adds a touch of interaction, as players vie for desirable cards, but the overall competition feels muted.
Replayability is modest. While the random shuffle of cards ensures variability, the game’s light strategy and limited player interaction may not hold the attention of seasoned gamers. It works best in shorter gaming sessions or as a warm-up for more complex games.
Final Reflections: A Tower of Fun, But Not Forever
5 Towers delivers an enjoyable, lightweight experience with simple mechanics and an inviting design. While it’s unlikely to anchor anyone’s collection, it’s a solid option for family game nights or casual gatherings. Fans of bidding and spatial puzzles may find it charming, but its lack of depth keeps it from reaching greater heights.
Who is this game for? Families, casual gamers, and those looking for a quick, colorful card game will appreciate 5 Towers. It’s less suited for players seeking deep strategy or high replayability.
Final Rating: 6.0 out of 10
Want to check more? Take a look at the videos/reviews below:
Enjoyed this review? You can support Critical Cardboard by purchasing the game through our Amazon affiliate link. It won’t cost you extra, but it helps us keep creating great board game content. Thank you for your support!
