Quadropolis, from publishers Days of Wonder, is played over four rounds. In each, tiles are randomly laid out in a 5 x 5 grid. Each player has an 'architect' numbered 1 to 4, and in turn players place an architect on the edge of a row or column and take the tile in the corresponding position (ie: architect #3 takes the third tile from the end in that row or column). A marker ('the Urbanist') is moved to the position of each tile as it is taken, and no architect can overlay an architect previously laid in that round, nor can they be laid in a row or column that would mean they were pointing at the Urbanist.
The tiles players take each represent buildings or parks. Most immediately generate for the player energy or inhabitants. These are used in the end game to 'activate' buildings so that they score points. Leftover energy or inhabitants become a liability and score negative points - so players have to manage a careful balancing act. As their architects claim tiles, players also need to think where best to place them on their individual grids so as to be likely to maximise their scores. Various buildings score only when adjacent to specific other buildings, but buildings can only be laid in a square whose row or column number corresponds with the number of the architect that took the tile. This means the game requires rather more thought and planning than might immediately meet the eye.
Quadropolis is an accessible game but its scoring might initially be considered complicated by those coming to this as a 'gateway' game. For those who want to extend the challenge, however, Quadropolis comes with alternate boards, further buildings and more advanced rules so that the game can be played in 'Expert' mode. All of this contributes to a game with strong replayability.