Barca (board game)

Barca is a strategic board game for 2-4 players, designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling and published by Ravensburger in 2003. The game's theme revolves around the city of Barcelona and players acting as merchants attempting to establish profitable trade routes and construct buildings to gain influence.

The game board depicts a stylized map of Barcelona divided into districts. Players control a limited number of ships (Barcas) which they use to transport goods (represented by colored cubes) between these districts. A central market area offers changing prices for goods, creating a dynamic economic element. Players purchase goods at lower prices in some districts and sell them for profit in others.

Movement of the Barcas is dictated by action cards which each player draws at the beginning of their turn. These cards dictate the specific actions a player can perform, such as moving a Barca, building a construction site, or buying/selling goods.

A key element of Barca is the construction of buildings. Players can claim construction sites within the districts. Once enough construction sites are claimed in a district, a building can be erected. Buildings provide players with scoring bonuses and influence within the district, impacting their end-game score.

The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds or when a player reaches a specific scoring threshold. The player with the highest score, determined by a combination of building ownership, goods sold, and other bonuses, wins the game. Barca is known for its relatively simple ruleset combined with a depth of strategic options, requiring players to manage their resources, anticipate their opponents' moves, and effectively leverage the fluctuating market conditions.