Summary
A game for 1 – 4 players
Play time is around 30 – 45 minutes
Publisher is Floodgate Games
Introduction
In Sagrada, you as an artist compete with other artists to create the most beautiful stained glass window for the Sagrada Familia. The glass pieces consist of colored dice. Each round, players choose from a pool of dice and place them in their window. Pay close attention to the placement restrictions as you cannot place the same color or value next to each other.
Are you ready to compete with the other artists and will your stained glass be added to the Sagrada Familia?
Setting up the game
Each player receives two double-sided window pattern cards and their own Window Frame Player board, giving them a total of four different designs to choose from. Each player selects one window pattern card and slides it into their player board.
The window pattern card has white and colored spaces, and sometimes numbers, which indicate restrictions. Colored spaces can only contain a die of that color, and numbered spaces can only contain a die of that value.
Depending on the difficulty level of the chosen window, players receive 3 to 6 favor tokens, indicated by dots on the card. These tokens can be used to activate tools.
Now, lay out 3 public objective cards, which determine how players can earn points. Then, give each player 1 private objective card. Next, lay out 3 tool cards, which are special actions that players can use by spending favor tokens.
Place all the dice in the communal bag and mix them well. Then, randomly determine the starting player.
Let’s play
The game is played over 10 rounds. Each round proceeds as follows:
Drawing and Drafting Dice
- The starting player draws a number of dice (2 × number of players + 1) from the bag and rolls them. • For 2 players: 5 dice.
• For 3 players: 7 dice.
• For 4 players: 9 dice. - Taking turns to choose a die:
The starting player chooses a die first and places it on their window pattern card, then the next players take turns choosing a die until the last player, who gets to choose two dice. The turn order then reverses back to the first player. So, in a 3-player game, it goes first player 1, then player 2, then player 3, then player 3 again, then player 2, and finally player 1. This continues until all players have chosen 2 dice.
Important, the value of the dice cannot be changed!
Placement Rules:
The first die placed must be against the edge of the window or in a corner. Each subsequent die must be adjacent (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) to a previously placed die.
However, the following rules apply!
You cannot place two dice of the same color or value directly next to each other!
In some rear cases you can’t place a dice, that dice will be removed from the game and you cannot replace it with a new one. In this case you will lose 1 VP per open space at the end of the game
In addition to the window pattern cards, there are public objective cards (which provide points for all players) and personal objectives (which earn you points by collecting dice of a specific color). There are also tools that players can use by spending special tokens.
Special Actions: Tools
Players can use their favor tokens to activate one of the three tools. This can include:
• Rerolling a die;
• Placing a die in a special way;
• Swapping a die out of the game.
If a tool has not been used yet, it costs the first player one token. Subsequent players must pay two tokens to use the same tool.
A round ends when all the players have taken 2 actions (taken a die or used a toolcard), place the remaining dice on the Round and proceed to the next round. In some cases there can be multiple dice placed on 1 round track.
The next player now received the dice bag and begin the next round.
The Game ends
The game ends directly after the 10 round.
Clear all the dice from the round track and flip it over to the score track side. Use the player’s score marker to track their position on the score track, flipping the marker if they exceed 10 points.
Each player gain points from
– Each public objective card, some card can be scored multiple times
– Their private objective card, summing the values of their dice of the specified color
– Favor tokens, 1 VP for each unspent token
– Lose 1 VP for each open space on their window
The player with the highest VP is the winner
Conclusion & final score
Difficulty: 1.92/ 5
Re-playability: 8
Our score: 7 out of 10 dice
Why is Sagrada so much fun? It’s a combination of luck and strategy. You need to plan carefully, but also adapt to unexpected choices that might disrupt your strategy. Do you pick the best possible die for your window, or do you take the chance to block an opponent?
The dice drafting keeps the game fresh, with a surprising mix of dice each round. The game features beautiful components and vibrant dice that make the stained-glass theme feel truly immersive.
The rules are simple, yet there’s enough depth to challenge experienced players.
Sagrada has high replayability thanks to the variety of window and objective cards.
With its straightforward rules and fast gameplay, Sagrada is a perfect family game!
Thanks to Floodgate Games for this review copy and the opportunity to write about it.
