Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 45 min
Age requirements: 10+
Set-up time: 5 minutes

Pergamon Rules Description:

The Pergamon Museum is filled with archeological finds. In the game Pergamon you are trying to obtaining research funds so you can excavate and exhibit artifacts in the museum.

The game is played over 12 rounds. On rounds 5, 7, 9 and 12 you will score your exhibits. If you score the most Victory Points (VPs) you win.

To start the round five tiles showing incomplete items are placed in the excavation site.

Each round you will have a general idea of how much research money is available. In your turn you place your meeple on the research fund track. The space you choose will determine the amount of money you get and how deep you can excavate.

After digging you must determine if you’d like to exhibit any of your completed finds. The older exhibits are the more they are worth.

On the rounds you evaluate your collection you score VPs based on a track in the museum. There are also bonuses for having the oldest vase, jug, mask or bracelet.

Score the most VPs after 12 rounds and you’ll win.

A Quick Review:

Pergamon is a fun game of set collection with a push your factor. The research fund track is where most of your thinking takes place. Do you try to get more money and dig deeper or will the money run out?

You’ll be jockeying for the best mix of money and digging depth. Often another player will take what you are looking for or the money will run out. So most of the tension takes place during this phase too.

The components are good and the rulebook is easy to understand. There are a couple hiccups here though. One variant rule is stated wrong and the blue figure does not match the other blue components. These are minor issues though and do not detract from game play.

Pergamon is easy to teach, just the right length and fun to play. The concepts are easy to grasp and the theme fits the mechanics very well. You will definitely enjoy this game and many of you non-gamer friends will too.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 3 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 3 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6