Asian Tigers , the new board game by Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro and Paulo Soledade , allows us to experience first-hand the period of economic growth that, between the 1950s and 1997, transformed South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan into world powers. With an indicative duration of 120 minutes and playable by 1 to 4 people, Asian Tigers: A Story of Prosperity is based on worker placement and combo mechanics, and puts us in the shoes of investors competing to increase their prestige.

The Game Board and the Start of the Game

The board is divided into three main areas: the investment zones of the four Asian Tigers on the sides and the Global Market in the center, where the trading part takes place. Each player starts with a set of resources, which includes 24 generic structures, 6 factories and a pool of three types of workers, placed in a random order on the player board. From here, a game develops over two Eras, during which workers and resources are managed to maximize the economic expansion of the Tigers.

Infrastructure Placement and Construction

Each turn, the player can place a worker on one of the Asian Tigers economic zones or on the Global Market. Investment zones offer the possibility to build strategic infrastructures such as laboratories, power plants, factories and universities . Each structure unlocks different bonuses, such as science and energy tokens or the production of goods, which allow players to gain advantages based on the chosen strategy. For example, building a factory immediately activates the production of goods, while a power plant offers an energy bonus for nearby factories. Each infrastructure removes structures from the board, unlocking chain effects that allow additional moves in a "cascading" effect.

Selling to the Global Market

The Global Market is one of the key places where players can sell the goods they produce, earning influence points and national flags that increase prestige based on the conquered market. The choice of the market, which can be regional or international, and the nations to sell to is crucial to optimize the score and balance the resources during the game. The flags collected increase the final score by multiplying the points in the dedicated sections of the personal board.

End of Era Phases and Prestige Points

At the end of each Era, a management phase is performed in which players receive bonuses based on the influence achieved in the different areas. In addition, the turn order for the second Era is determined by the positioning on the Global Market track, rewarding the investment strategy and the ability to adapt to changes. At the end of the second Era, the final points are counted based on the flags collected and the milestones reached on the market track.

Solitaire and Campaign Mode

For those who prefer playing alone, Asian Tigers offers a well-structured automaton and unique scenarios to face, up to real mini-campaigns with specific challenges and objectives. The campaign mode introduces an additional element of narrative and a progression system, in which each game conditions the next.

Final Considerations

Asian Tigers is a challenging management game, ideal for players who appreciate interaction and economic strategy. The authors Sentieiro and Soledade, already known for titles such as Madeira and Panamax , have created a game that, while requiring attention to resource management and planning, is well-balanced and satisfying. The component of worker placement and blocking, as well as the structure of the Global Market, introduce elements of tactical interaction that enrich the gaming experience.

Why Support the FundPop Campaign

Asian Tigers is currently available for the BoardHouse Store FundPop campaign. A unique opportunity to secure this title at a competitive price and with no down payment: you only pay at the end of the campaign and only if successfully funded. If you wish to add Asian Tigers to your collection, visit the FundPop campaign link and discover all the benefits of supporting the project right now!