1964 was quite the eventful year. President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted the Civil Rights Act, The Beatles touched down in New York City, and the Olympics took place in Tokyo. But for board game enthusiasts, it was also the year that saw the widespread release of Acquire. Flash forward over six decades, and Renegade Games is breathing new life into this legendary hotel-building game. They’ve rolled out both a premium 60th Anniversary Edition set for 2024 and a standard retail version debuting in 2023. While these releases boast a refreshed appearance, the heart of the game – the engaging mechanics that have made it a classic – remains intact, securing its spot on our list of enduring board game greats.
Acquire caters to two to six players, each vying to build hotel chains, lay tiles, and invest in shares, all in the pursuit of substantial returns. Even if its theme doesn’t immediately captivate like flashier titles on store shelves, there’s a reason Acquire has held its ground for more than 60 years. It’s straightforward to teach yet offers a surprising depth of strategy – enough to have been featured at last year’s World Series of Board Gaming tournament.
During gameplay, each turn involves drawing a tile marked with a grid coordinate and placing it accordingly on the board. When two or more adjacent tiles come together, a new hotel forms, granting its founder a share of stock. The larger the hotel chain, the dearer the shares – and when a hotel is acquired by a larger one, the profits soar. Thus, the game becomes a dance of buying low and selling high.
Renegade Games’ newest iterations introduce a feature known as Tycoon Mode, which offers a leg up for players trailing behind. Traditionally, only the top two stockholders of a chain reap the benefits when it’s absorbed. Tycoon Mode extends this earning potential to the third player as well. Although I favor the classic rules, I commend this tweak for making the game more accessible to newcomers.
Exclusive to the 60th Anniversary Edition are special power cards that further shake up the gameplay. These cards allow remarkable feats, like placing four tiles simultaneously or acquiring stocks at no cost. While these alterations bring a different flavor, they might be too game-changing for some. After trying them once, I personally found them overpowered. Yet, they’re optional extras, so it’s worth experimenting to see if they align with your play style.
When comparing the retail edition with the anniversary version, a $50 price difference might raise some eyebrows. Yet, the premium touches make a compelling case. Core gameplay elements remain unchanged – save for the power cards – so the distinctions primarily lie in the upgraded components.
The premium edition offers three significant enhancements: a drawstring bag for selecting tiles, a removable organizer for share cards and hotel pieces, and replacing flimsy paper money with substantial poker chips. Though these might seem like minor perks, they noticeably enhance the game experience. The tile bag simplifies setup by eliminating the need to flip tiles manually, allowing for smoother gameplay. Should you choose the standard edition, I highly recommend getting a bag to replicate this benefit.
Another handy feature of the Anniversary Edition is its redesigned plastic organizer. It neatly stores share cards upright, keeping them separated and easy to access alongside corresponding hotel miniatures. By contrast, the base edition’s organizer spans the box’s entire size, taking up valuable table space – a less convenient option for most players.
Then there’s the purely aesthetic upgrade: swapping paper money for poker chips. I am not a fan of paper currency in board games, and I’m pleased this component style stayed in the past. The increased price of the Anniversary Edition owes much to these chips, which add elegance and practicality. They have a delightful heft, stay organized in their container, and let’s be honest, the clink-clink sound they make is far more satisfying than handling paper money.
Where to Buy
- Acquire: 60th Anniversary Edition (MSRP $99.99)
- Standard Edition (MSRP $49.99)
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