Sacred Sidequests Games

The Race for Manhattan Begins Below the Bedrock ||The Race for Manhattan Begins Below the Bedrock ||

By Secret Sidequest Games

Cathedrals of Commerce

Expected: Fall 2027

Complexity Rating: 3.75 / 5
Playing Time: 90 minutes

Players: 2 to 5
Age: 14+

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The Race for Manhattan Begins Below the Bedrock.

The turn of the 20th century has transformed New York City into an arena of cutthroat ambition. Industrial tycoons, corrupt political syndicates, and visionary architects are fighting inch by inch to claim the clouds. In Cathedrals of Commerce, you quest into the polished boots of a Gilded Age real estate mogul competing to construct the tallest, most lucrative, and breathtaking skyscrapers the world has ever seen.

Will you build a sprawling network of humble masonry structures to dominate the local rental market?

Or will you risk total financial ruin to drive pneumatic caissons deep into Manhattan schist, draft cutting-edge structural steel, and raise an iconic Art Deco masterpiece that permanently steals the world record?

🔨 Key Features

A Cutthroat High-Stakes Economy:

Navigate a brutal market where space is tight, wages escalate with every worker on site, and predatory bank loans can fund your vertical expansion - at the cost of your future income.
The World Record Height Trophy:

Sprint to build the tallest tower on the table to claim the physical World Record Trophy. Defend your crown turn-by-turn for massive point bonuses, or watch helplessly as a rival leapfrogs your height rank to snatch the headline away.
Diffusion of Tech:

Pioneer new engineering eras on your personal Tech Track to unlock Beaux-Arts, Gothic Revival, and Art Deco landmarks first. But beware: as soon as you break ground on a new era, your architectural breakthroughs become public knowledge for the rest of the table!
Dynamic Historical Events:

Trigger historical game-changers at City Hall - from labor strikes and municipal fire codes to building Hudson River tunnels, East River bridges, and lush city parks directly onto the Manhattan grid.
Striking Vintage Artwork:

Wrapped in a gorgeous "hand-colored ink on parchment" aesthetic that transports players straight to the drafting tables and boardroom canyons of 1920s New York.