- Publisher : Catch Up Games
- Designer(s) : Bruno Cathala, Ludovic Maublanc
- Artist : Christine Alcouffe
- Players : 2
- Playing time : 30 Min
- Weight BGG : 1.96
What's this?
Gatsby is a competitive strategy game for two players, designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc , in which you play as Dorothy Williams or James Miller , two ambitious figures of 1920s New York high society. Their goal? To get closer to the mysterious and influential Jay Gatsby , by charming the right people in the right places.
How do you play?
🧩 Objective
Two ways to win:
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Gather 3 characters from the same family
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Or 1 character from each of the 5 families .
Otherwise, the player with the most prestige (points indicated on the characters) wins at the end.
🔁 How a round unfolds
Each player, in turn:
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Choose a main (or special) action .
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Performs a combination of token placements and movements around the board.
Possible actions (depending on the chosen area):
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Place tokens at the Cabaret to create connections.
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Climb the Financial Center tower with the Ascension token.
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Take control of tracks at the Hippodrome via majorities.
The limited but powerful special actions allow you to break the routine: swapping characters, placing multiple tokens, controlling the opponent’s choice, etc.
🏙️ The places
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Cabaret : Build a chain of tokens to attract a patron. Some squares offer immediate bonuses.
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Financial Center : Raise your Ascension token to outpace characters and recruit them.
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Racetrack : Place tokens on tracks. When a line is complete, the person with the majority wins the character.
⏱ End of game
The game ends as soon as a player fulfills a victory condition. Otherwise, it ends when one of the locations is emptied of its characters. The player with the most prestige (added to the points of unused Special Action tiles) wins.
Is it good?
Gatsby is an intense and tense dueling game , where the tension is constant between the two players. You will trade blows, try to counter the opponent’s plans and take advantage of every opening. The numerous bonuses and combos available allow for real twists and turns , making each game dynamic and unpredictable.
You will have to analyze your opponent’s intentions , anticipate their moves, and do everything possible to block them , “steal” tiles from them , or prevent them from completing their objectives . It’s a true strategic duel, where every action counts.
The game skillfully mixes placement , racing and majority across three distinct playing areas ( Cabaret , Financial Centre and Hippodrome ), each with its own rules, but interconnected through bonus actions and often very satisfying combinations.
Visually, the artistic direction is successful , even if the theme remains quite light and is barely felt in the mechanics. It is sometimes closer to an abstract game , but the whole thing works very well thanks to the omnipresent tension.
In short , Gatsby is an excellent two-player game: tense, fluid, interactive . If you like games where each move has real weight and you have to constantly anticipate your opponent , then Gatsby is likely to please you.
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Gatsby Review
Positives
- Tense duel with strong interaction
- Very satisfying combinations of actions and bonuses
- Three play areas with different mechanics
- Ease of learning and fluency
Negatives
- Chance of the initial draw sometimes frustrating
- Not very immersive theme, abstract game feel
- One player can get too far ahead if the other doesn't react quickly enoug
Breakdown
- Edition 8.5
- Mechanics 8.0
- Thematic 6.0
- Replayability 8.0
- Getting started 9.5
- Interaction 9.0
- Originality 7.0
