Gaudí: Inside the Mind of a Genius
Antoni Gaudí was a visionary Catalan architect born in 1852, renowned for his imaginative and unique style —a blend of Gothic and Modernist influences. His most iconic masterpiece is the Sagrada Família in Barcelona: a breathtaking basilica that remains under construction a century after his death in 1926. Gaudí's legacy encompasses architectural landmarks such as Casa Batlló, Park Güell, and Casa Milà, each embodying the three fundamental pillars that defined his worldview: a transcendent reverence for nature, a strong Catalan identity, and a deep religious devotion. These inspirations permeate his entire body of work, from the imposing facades of the Sagrada Família to the finest details of his handcrafted furniture. His architecture stands as an enduring testament to artistic innovation, cultural pride, and spiritual expression.
The board game presented here is a heartfelt tribute to Gaudí’s extraordinary life and vision, celebrating not only the famous facades of his buildings but also the intricate beauty found in every "corner"—figuratively speaking, of course, as Gaudí preferred curves to straight lines. He masterfully combined form and function, designing spaces that were not only visually stunning but also ahead of their time in terms of comfort and practicality.
Among his innovations is "Trencadís", a mosaic-like technique using tile and ceramic fragments —ideal for covering curved surfaces. And what does "Trencadís" mean? It is a Catalan word meaning "broken into a thousand tiny pieces." As you play, you will discover some of these intricate details depicted on the cards and experience the creative joy of arranging your own "Trencadís" patterns on your player board.
Who designed Gaudí? The game is the work of Dani Garcia, creator of other acclaimed Eurogames such as Barcelona, Windmill Valley, and Daitoshi, among others. The artwork was created by Edu Valls —one of the most prominent artists in the modern board game scene— who is responsible for the art in games like Bitoku and 3 Ring Circus.
Luxury components
As is typical of Devir’s in-house games, the components are spectacular. The player boards feature a distinctive design that mimics the roof of a Modernist building. The ‘Trencadís’ pieces also deserve special mention; drawn from an opaque bag and placed on the central board, players collect them to fit into their own personal mosaics. The cards are equally impressive, each featuring unique artwork inspired by the life and work of Antoni Gaudí.
Mechanically, the game challenges players to earn points over three rounds by acquiring cards across the game's three pillars—nature, Catalonia, and religion—as well as *trencadís* pieces. Each pillar awards points differently: nature points are typically earned when cards are played; Catalonia points are usually awarded at the end of each round; and religion points are primarily tallied at the end of the game.
So, how do you play *Gaudí*? The game unfolds over three rounds. In each round, players take turns moving around the central lamp on the main board, carefully choosing where to stop to perform key actions: drawing cards and collecting various types of *trencadís* pieces. These resources are then used to play cards and advance up the chimneys on their player boards.
Each round concludes once all players have completed a full circuit around the lamp. To succeed, players must progress in a balanced manner, as only their two lowest scores across the three pillars will count toward their final total. At the end of the third round, the player with the highest and most balanced combination of victory points is declared the winner!
