92

In The Princes of Florence, players are noble families in Renaissance Florence competing to attract the most prestigious artists and scholars to their palazzo. Players build and landscape their estates, acquire various elements like freedom and jesters, and use a bidding system to gain resources and complete works, ultimately striving to become the most renowned family in Florence.

92

The Verdict

based on 11 reviews

Positive 0%
Features a tight decision space and significant strategic depth, where every auction and action carries weight.
The auction system is consistently described as tense, cutthroat, and highly engaging, driving much of the player interaction.
Rewards careful planning, adaptability, and long-term strategy, offering multiple viable paths to victory.
Minimizes luck through mechanisms like drawing multiple cards and choosing one, allowing for more strategic execution.
Remains a robust and enjoyable game design that has stood the test of time, appealing to fans of classic Eurogames.
Highly sensitive to player count, with most critics recommending 4-5 players for the best experience, as lower player counts are often found less engaging.
Can be unforgiving for new players due to its complexity and tight economic decisions, requiring a learning curve to play effectively.
Some find the theme to be less integrated and more mechanical than narrative, leading to a potentially dry thematic experience.
Pacing can feel dated, with potential for downtime during the action phase or if players take time to consider many options.
100
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Meeple Mountain, Andrew LynchArticle

The reviewer highly praises The Princes of Florence, calling it a masterpiece when played with five players. They appreciate its tight design, tense auctions, and strategic depth that distinguishes it from typical Euros, emphasizing the importance of player interaction.

100
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
RPGnet, Shannon AppelclineArticle

The reviewer praises the exceptional rulebook and generally above-average components, though criticizes the muted aesthetics and some minor design flaws. The gameplay highlights include interesting auction dynamics and smart randomness reduction.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
The Opinionated Gamers, Dale YuArticle

The reviewer hails the game as a classic and a pillar of the hobby, highly commending this new edition for its improved, more inclusive artwork and the inclusion of expansions and a solo mode, all while retaining the excellent core gameplay.

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Zatu Games, KacoplaysArticle

The reviewer highly recommends this new edition of Princes of Florence, praising its beautiful art, engaging bidding, and strategic depth. They note its strong replayability and interaction for experienced eurogame fans, but caution it may be too complex for new players or those who dislike auctions.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
MarcoOmnigamer, MarcoOmnigamerVideo

The reviewer highly recommends The Princes of Florence, appreciating its engaging interactions, engine-building, and the strategic dilemmas, while noting minor concerns about increasing difficulty and the absence of catch-up mechanics.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Unfiltered GamerArticle

The reviewer finds this 'old school euro' game a fun, engaging, and cutthroat experience with tight bidding and set collection, despite its slower pacing. They praise the updated artwork and production, acknowledging its niche appeal.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
The Fandomentals, Brody SheardArticle

The reviewer found this updated version of Princes of Florence to be a great modern refresh of a classic, well-designed Eurogame with stellar components. They appreciated its depth, strategic choices, and balanced gameplay, making it highly recommended for Eurogame fans.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Jeremy Reviews It, JeremyVideo

The reviewer highly praises "The Princes of Florence" as one of his favorite board games, appreciating its strategic depth and well-designed mechanics. He finds it an engaging puzzle that remains interesting even after numerous plays, highlighting its intuitive logic.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Board Game Reviews by Josh, JoshArticle

The reviewer highly praises 'The Princes of Florence' for its strategic depth, particularly in action management and player interaction during auctions, noting its 'tight' design where difficult choices are constantly required.

85
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Board Game QuestArticle

Board Game Quest found "The Princes of Florence" to be an engaging and highly regarded classic, particularly for 4-5 players where its auction and prestige mechanics truly shine, despite noting that the reprint isn't a flagship revamp and lower player counts are less exciting.

80
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews, Ryan and BethanyVideo

The reviewers genuinely enjoy 'The Princes of Florence' for its strategic puzzle-like nature and tight economy, despite finding it unintuitive to relearn and criticizing its bland graphical design.

Stay in the loop

Fresh reviews, hyped games and top lists — straight to your inbox, once a week.

Board Game Verdict

© 2026 Board Game Verdict

AboutMethodologyEthicsFAQContact usPrivacy policy·····