San Juan

Fast and fun, the lighter version of Puerto Rico, also for non-gamers. It makes use of the well-know mechanics of the original boardgame, but adds less strategy and a bit more luck instead. Quick setup, so it's perfect as a filler. Great replayable value. The only thing I dislike: low interaction between players, expecially with 2 people it seems "only a run to build, the faster you can". However, awesome!

San Juan takes what I appreciate of Puerto Rico and boils it down to a more streamlined and enjoyable form, playable in half the time. Simple and fast, it rewards strategy and tactics without becoming too much chess-like. Simpler and with less variety than Race for the Galaxy, it is also more elegant and accessible. Luck is present, but not to the point of making a mess of your strategy: even if not all the buildings seem to be balanced, it's really hard to be left without viable options. Interaction between players is still limited: you have to choose the role that maximizes your advantage and minimizes your rivals' gains, and keep a look at what paths they're following, but that's it. Really good with 3 players, still good with 2, less enjoyable with 4.

RGG version. Simple components, good quality.

A few years back this saw quite a lot of play, but it has started feeling samey. Definitely overshadowed by the more complex Race for the Galaxy.

Card version of Puerto Rico. But much easier to play. Each turn is not so critical and it is not so obvious if you have made a mistake. Difficult to tell who is winning until the end. Quick to play and quick to learn. The more I play this the more I like it.

before Glory to Rome and Dominion this was my favourite 2 player card game. There are several strategies to win and you need to adopt one that suits the cards you draw. Some detractors say it is very luck based but this is like saying the same about Bridge

Just when the game is getting interesting, someone lays that last card and the game ends. My husband and I prefer the Catan card game.

update: we have started playing this with our 6 y.o., and I find I like it better with three players.

I loved how the cards could be used for multiple things (currency, buildings, production), and I adore variable phase selection (ala Puerto Rico, Glory to Rome). The theme isn't bad. The downside here mostly comes in the form of the end game; there are so few ways of ending the game, that you're options for winning strategies are somewhat narrow. Hands down best at 4p. I find I want to play about twice a year, otherwise I'd pick up it's cousin Glory to Rome instead.

I bought this instead of Race for the Galaxy (RftG). You can think of it as the offspring of RftG and Peurto Rico. The game is quick and has a lot of strategy. It also has some luck. My only complaint is that the Guild Hall / Indigo strategy used by my SO wins almost every game.

2 or 4, fantastic card game.

Inexplicably this just doesn't feel like a game.