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My City vs My Island (2026): both are legacy board games from designer Reiner Knizia and publisher Kosmos, built around the same idea: everyone places the same puzzle-shaped pieces on their own board, and the rules change over a campaign of 24 short episodes. My City came first and is about building a town along a river. My Island is a newer standalone campaign set on a tropical island. If you are deciding which one to start with, here is how they compare.
Best place to start: My City
My City is the easier first campaign, has a slightly lower price and its board flips to a reusable side after the 24 episodes, so the box still gets played after the story ends.
Price band: $30+ (about $35) · Check today’s price on Amazon
My City vs My Island at a glance
Both seat two to four players, ages 10+.
What a legacy game means here
In a legacy game, choices from one session carry over to the next. In these two, you add stickers to your board, open sealed envelopes with new rules and track scores across chapters. Each episode is a short, standalone game of about 30 minutes, so you can play one or three in an evening. The campaign is designed for the same players each time.
How My City plays
Each turn someone reveals a card, and every player places the matching building shape on their own board. Buildings cannot cross the river, and your score depends on how you build around the trees and rocks printed on your board and how few spaces you leave empty. New elements and special rules arrive chapter by chapter, and stickers make your board slowly unique. Because everyone places the same shape at the same time, nobody waits for a turn, and the fun comes from comparing how differently four people solved the same puzzle.
How My Island plays
My Island keeps the shared card reveal and personal boards but moves the setting to an island with its own terrain and its own surprises. It is a fully separate campaign, so you do not need My City to play it. The core placement rules are close enough that a family who knows My City can start My Island in minutes, while the new chapters bring twists of their own. Expect the same quick episodes and the same steady growth in rules from one chapter to the next.
My City and My Island compared
| My City | My Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Reiner Knizia | Reiner Knizia |
| Players | 2–4 | 2–4 |
| Episodes | 24 | 24 |
| Episode length | About 30 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Needs the other game? | No | No |
| Best for | First legacy campaign | Groups who enjoyed My City |
| Price | about $35 | about $39 |
Who should buy My City
Buy My City if you have never played a legacy game. It introduces the format gently, the early chapters are easy for kids aged 10 and up, and the reusable side of the board means the box is never fully used up. It also suits couples who want a regular weekly game with a story arc.
Who should buy My Island
Buy My Island if you loved My City and want another campaign with the same group, or if the island theme appeals more to your family. It is just as easy to learn, and the shared card reveal keeps everyone playing at once, so there is no downtime between turns.
How long each campaign takes
With 24 episodes of about half an hour each, a campaign takes roughly 12 hours of play. Most families finish in four to eight weeks of regular game nights, playing three episodes, one chapter, at a time. If your group only meets once a month, a single campaign can stretch over most of a year, which is part of the appeal for many families.
Tips for playing a legacy campaign
- Play with the same group. The story and scoring track work best when the players stay together.
- Do not open envelopes early. The surprises are part of the fun.
- Keep a notebook. Writing down winners of each episode adds a season-long rivalry.
- More family picks: see our best family board games.
My City and My Island questions
Do you need My City to play My Island?
No. My Island is a complete standalone campaign.
Can My City be replayed after the campaign?
Yes. The back of each My City board has a side for repeat games after the 24 episodes.
What age is My City for?
The box is rated for ages 10 and up, and families with keen eight-year-olds often play it too.
