Lost Cities*

Lost Cities is a two-player card game focused on building profitable archaeological expeditions. Part of the Kosmos two-player series, it features a deck with cards ranked 2–10 in various colors, including a new sixth color added in 2019. The game also employs "handshake" cards as multipliers for scoring.

Gameplay Overview

• Expedition Building: Play cards in ascending order to create expeditions.
• Card Management: Choose to play a card on an expedition or discard it.
• Ascending Order Play: Cards must be played in order, but not consecutively.
• Handshake Cards: Act as multipliers, increasing the value of expeditions.
• Scoring Expeditions: Expeditions start at -20 points. Score by adding card values.
• Profit and Loss: Aim to overcome the initial deficit for profit; multipliers affect losses too.
• Game Structure: Consists of three matches with cumulative scoring.

Conclusion

Lost Cities offers a blend of strategy and luck, requiring players to balance risk and reward in their expeditions. Its simple mechanics, combined with strategic depth, make it an engaging game for those who enjoy thoughtful card games. The added layer of multipliers with handshake cards brings a unique twist to scoring, making every decision crucial.