Power Grid
2–6 players • 120 min • ages 12+ • Friedemann Friese • 2004
- Designer
- Friedemann Friese
- Publisher
- Arclight · Hobby World · 2F-Spiele · Edge Entertainment
- First published
- 2004
- Players
- 2–6 players
- Playing time
- 120 min
- Age
- 12+
How it plays
Power Grid plays 2–6 players, takes about 120 minutes to play, and is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Mechanics
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Board games in the collecto.rs catalogue whose credits, title or description name this designer — this one included.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Power Grid was designed by Friedemann Friese and first published in 2004 as a successor to his 2001 game, Funkenschlag. Friese, known for his signature green hair and penchant for the letter F, developed the game to simulate the complexities of managing a power company through an auction-based market and logistical network building. It emerged during a period of rising interest in German-style board games, quickly gaining a reputation for its mathematical depth and tight, competitive resource management.
The game's design is defined by its clever catch-up mechanism and its dual-layer strategy of purchasing efficient power plants while simultaneously expanding a physical grid across a map. Friese intended the game to be challenging and highly interactive, avoiding direct conflict in favor of economic maneuvering. Upon its release, it was lauded by the hobbyist community for its high level of replayability and robust ruleset, eventually becoming a staple of modern board gaming shelves and a definitive title in the economic strategy genre.
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Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Power Grid
Power Grid is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2–6 players • 120 min • ages 12+ • Friedemann Friese • 2004. The catalog entry lists auction as its mechanic. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Power Grid?
Power Grid is a board game for 2–6 players, running about 2 hours. The catalog entry lists auction as its mechanic. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Power Grid for?
Power Grid is built for 2–6 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
How long does Power Grid take to play?
A game of Power Grid is listed at about 2 hours. Real sessions run shorter or longer depending on player count and how well the table already knows the game.
What age is Power Grid for?
Power Grid lists a minimum age of 12. That's a recommended starting age rather than a hard rule.
Who designed Power Grid?
Power Grid was designed by Friedemann Friese. It's published by Arclight, Hobby World, 2F-Spiele, Edge Entertainment and 8 more. The catalog gives its publication year as 2004.
Has Power Grid won any awards?
Yes — the catalog entry for Power Grid lists Nederlandse Spellenprijs and Gouden Ludo.
How many collectors track Power Grid on collecto.rs?
Power Grid doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Power Grid?
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Where does the Power Grid catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Power Grid is sourced from Wikidata. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
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