Welcome to Which Game First where we boldly explore the hilariously huge world of board games. Did we unearth any hidden treasures you’ve been missing out on? Let’s find out!







First up: We travel forward in time so we can shop in a mall from the 1990’s in Superstore 3000Next: We build pyramids to honor the gods, one block at a time in ImhotepAnd lastly: We find out just how high numbers can be stacked in NMBR 9







Superstore 3000







Designed by: Rodrigo RegoPublished by: Space Cowboys (2024)Players: 2 – 4Ages: 10 & upPlaying time: 30 – 45 minutes







Superstore 3000 is a tile placement game in which players are designing a retro-futuristic mall in the year 2964. The object of the game is to build the tallest and most incredible mall to satisfy as many customers as possible.







Each player builds their own mall by placing shop tiles and being the first to meet the criteria to collect the unique attraction tiles that will make your building even more exceptional.







In turn, players are going to purchase stores, entrances, and other components that comprise a shopping mall. They are going to build it piece by piece, in order to satisfy customer wants and desires and they come through the entrance of the mall. For example, your main entrance has three customers to start. One might be looking to shop, the other wants a haircut, and the third customer wants some books. Well, you will want to try and satisfy these customers by building a shopping store, a barber shop, and a bookstore.







Make sure you build these shops within three spaces of that entrance, because that is as far as a customer is willing to walk. The more satisfied customers, the more victory points. There are also VP’s for certain set collections, and bonuses for unleashing specialty stores and attractions. All players will buy their main stores from the market for 0, 1, 2 or 3 dollars.







Try to have the most of the same type of store in order to earn the most VP’s. Earn bonus VP’s along the way. and as always, the most VP’s wins the game, and receives an oversized set of novelty scissors to cut the ribbon at the opening of their award-winning Superstore.







Imhotep







Designed by: Phil Walker-HardingPublished by: KOSMOS (2016)Players: 2 – 4Ages: 10 & upPlaying time: 40 minutes







Imhotep is a worker placement game where the players become builders in Egypt who want to emulate the first and best-known architect there, namely Imhotep.







Over six rounds, they move stones (represented by wooden cubes) by boat to create five seminal monuments. On a turn, a player chooses one of four actions: Procure new stones, load stones on a boat, bring a boat to a monument, or play an action card. 







There are several boats on which to load your stones, and the order in which stones are loaded are important. When a boat is either mostly filled (meaning all spots taken except for one) or if all the spaces are filled, a player can then choose to sail the boat to a port of their choosing.  There are 5 ports to choose from – Market, Pyramid, Temple, Burial Chamber, and the Obelisk – each port scores points differently.  







While this sounds easy, naturally the other players constantly thwart your building plans by carrying out plans of their own. Only those with the best timing — and the stones to back up their plans — will prove to be Egypt’s best builder.







NMBR 9







Designed by: Peter WichmannPublished by: Abacus Spiele (2017)Players: 1 – 4Ages: 8 & upPlaying time: 20 minutes