Blood Feud in New York (2004)

About this game

On a very large map of New York, including all the suburbs in Queens and Brooklyn, players build up their gangs of thugs, goons and hit men. Move these around the city in limos, speedboats and helicopters, attack your enemies, and take control of boroughs to earn income and hire more gangsters. Kill your enemy's Boss and you control their gang. Buy police protection and move around safely. When your family members congregates in one borough, they are safe, but earn you no income bonuses. Put a family member in each borough and your get bonuses to income, but then they are vulnerable to attack. There are 300 plastic figures for the different characters, buildings and vehicles. The helicopters are very good. The rotors spin when you blow on them. The game has detailed rules with tables for combat but also a set of clear diagrams. You could start playing in a few minutes.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 6.
• Rules load. At 2.7/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.