If you’ve ever wanted to smash skyscrapers, stomp around like a radioactive iguana, and yell at your friends for zapping you with laser eyes, then congratulations—you are in the right place. This is my review of the board game that lets you go full monster mode, knock buildings down, and annoy your fellow mutants all at once. I played it with my friends (who now eye me with fear), and I’m here with the honest scoop. Stay tuned if you want to know if it’s worth roaring over—or better left in the rubble!
How It Plays
Setting up
First, everyone picks a monster. Place your giant standee in the city, give each player a board with life and star dials. Shuffle Power cards and stack them nearby. Pile up the chunky cubes (buildings/units) on the city spaces, and hand out energy cubes. Put the dice where everyone can reach them.
Gameplay
Players take turns rolling six dice up to three times. Dice let you slap other monsters, heal, get energy, wreck buildings, or grab stars. Attack points smack monsters in Manhattan. Smash buildings for bonuses, but they turn into cranky military units! You can buy Power cards with your energy cubes for special moves. Staying in Manhattan gets you points, but every monster will try to knock you out if you hang out too long!
Winning the game
You win if you get 20 Victory Points first. Or, if you smash all the other monsters into the pavement and you’re the last beast standing, you win by knockout. Either way, your mom will be so proud.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for King of New York.
Unleashing Mayhem: Game Play and Monster Powers in King of New York
If you want to smash stuff and look cool, King of New York is your game. It throws you right into the city, giving you skyscrapers to crush, army tanks to punch, and the satisfaction of yelling “RAWR” at your friends. The core of the game is simple: roll dice, use the results to cause chaos, heal, or smack your rivals. Gaining victory points is the main goal, but blasting your way to the top with monster powers feels much more satisfying than quietly collecting points. Trust me, I tried the sneaky route and still got stepped on by my buddy’s alien squid.
Each monster has its own unique powers you can buy during the game, and that’s when things get wild. One moment I’m just a humble robotic bunny, the next I’m a radioactive robotic bunny with rocket fists. These power cards shake up every match. Some cards feel like game-changers, letting you double down on attacks or dodge danger like a pro. Others are less splashy, but still handy when you want to keep your monster in the running. Choosing which powers to buy kept me on the edge of my seat and, let’s be honest, probably stressed my friends out a bit too much (especially when I got the card that lets you throw buildings at people—yes, really!).
There’s always a surprise when the cards come out, making each playthrough feel fresh. If you’re tired of the same moves every round, those monster powers add a layer of wild unpredictability.
Next up, let’s see if Lady Luck or clever thinking wins the day in King of New York…
Luck vs Strategy: Can You Outsmart the Dice in King of New York?
Let’s not sugarcoat it: King of New York is about as subtle as a gorilla in a china shop. The big question is, can you out-think the dice, or are you just along for the wild ride? After playing this with my friends (and yes, Steve is still salty about losing three games in a row), I found the game is a merry mix of luck and strategy—though it leans harder on luck than I’d like.
Every turn, you roll those chunky dice and hope for the best. You can re-roll twice, sure, but if you keep getting “ouch, not again” results, there’s not much you can do. I tried to plan—really, I did! I mapped out when to attack, when to heal, and when to run. But one unlucky set of rolls, and suddenly, my monster was out there catching more buildings than it was smashing. Sometimes luck picks favorites, and I am usually not one of them.
There is some room for clever moves—like buying power cards that suit your monster or predicting when to take risks. But those brilliant tactical moments need lucky dice to back them up. So if you and your group like games where you can always outplay your foes with pure brainpower, King of New York might make you want to flip the table a little.
That said, watching your plans unravel in hilarious ways is half the fun. Next up, we’ll see just how wild the game gets when monsters collide—because if you thought luck was chaotic, wait ‘til you see the players!
Monsters, Mayhem, and Making Frenemies in King of New York
If you’ve ever wanted to destroy friendships with a rubbery tentacle slap, King of New York is your jam. The player interaction in this game is bonkers. Forget civil debates—here you’re hurling giant lizards at each other and cackling when someone’s last health is squished by a skyscraper. Everyone’s out for blood (or slime?) and you’re never sure who’ll gang up on whom next round.
One of the wildest bits is the city takeover. You want Manhattan’s heart, but so does every mutant in town. It’s like trying to hold the TV remote in a house full of toddlers—tense and super noisy. Last time I played, my buddy Steve cornered me in Manhattan, I just survived, only to be flattened by another friend’s monster rolling four attack dice. Only in King of New York can grudges form and dissolve in minutes, usually because someone’s dice betrayed them or their monster power fizzled out.
This game fuels chaos with little things too. You can destroy buildings for loot, but suddenly you’re public enemy number one. You trash-talk, you plead, you backstab, then ally up next turn. King of New York is party-fuel, blowing up both monsters and egos. If you love games where everyone’s involved and no one is safe, this one’s for you. Next, let’s shake off the dust and see if the component quality and artwork are as wild as the gameplay!
Monsters, Mayhem, and Cardboard: The Components and Artwork of King of New York
Let me tell you, the first thing that hit me about King of New York was the box. It’s chunky and colorful, just like my Aunt Linda—except Linda doesn’t have skyscrapers exploding in the background. That’s already a point in its favor.
As soon as we cracked it open, the chunky monster standees caught everyone’s eye. That’s right, you get big, sturdy cardboard cut-outs for each monster. If you want to feel like a real beast stomping on New York, trust me, these standees have your back. They’re a big upgrade from the usual puny cardboard tokens I get from other games. Also, there’s something weirdly satisfying about flicking them at your friends when you get booted out of Manhattan. The base for each monster was a bit snug, but none broke, so I count that as a win.
The board is bright and busy, packed with details, from Central Park to Brooklyn. I could actually spot a tiny hot dog cart near Times Square—so the artist was 100% on my wavelength. The energy cubes are plastic and shiny, looking like little alien candy. Don’t eat them, though. (Not that I did. I swear.) The dice are chunky and roll like thunder—very on-theme for smashing buildings. Even the cards feel good to shuffle, which is more than I can say for my playlist.
So, do I recommend King of New York based on looks and build alone? You bet! It’s got table presence, real personality, and will survive even your most dramatic game-night outbursts. That’s worth a spot on my shelf any day.
Conclusion
Alright, that’s a wrap for my King of New York review! This game bursts with color, chaos, and monster mayhem—perfect if you like action, wild swings, and don’t mind a heap of luck. I had a blast smashing buildings and annoying my friends (sorry, Dave). Standout art and chunky pieces make it feel like a party on your table, even if strategy sometimes takes a backseat to dice rolls. If you’re hunting for a game night highlight that doesn’t take itself too serious, King of New York delivers. But if you want deep tactics and steady skill, you might want to stomp elsewhere. Thanks for reading, and may the dice ever roll in your favor!
