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When the last milestone is finished, the game ends, then the total happiness score is summed. When the players have developed the city to the next milestone, they choose which new board to buy to expand the city, score their current happiness, and start a new milestone. Cardboard tiles represent residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings, and they have varied base shapes that are placed on the developed boards on the grid. The cards show what effects the building will have on the city, for example increasing the need for garbage collection, decreasing crime, or giving a bonus if placed next to a park.
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Players have personal cards that show what they can build, and ideally they discuss and plan with the other players how to best develop the city. At the start of each milestone, one additional board is bought, flipped over from its nature side to its developed side. The goal is to finish a number of milestones and to make the inhabitants of your city happy.
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Gameplay starts with four land boards being visible, the exact number varying depending on the scenario. Cities: Skylines – The Board Game is a co-operative game based on the popular computer game of the same name by Paradox Interactive.
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