Citizens of the Spark: Outshine your Rivals

Be Brilliant

Welcome to the planet of Fera, where a cosmic signal long ago altered the course of evolution. As the leader of a newly founded city, it is your task to recruit brilliant animal citizens and harness their skills to earn Sparks (points), ultimately guiding your settlement to victory. Play each game with a mix of the 30 citizen decks included in the core box, carefully manage your not-so-human resources, and activate your citizens at crucial moments to stay one step, hop, or slither ahead of your rivals.

Additionally, because players can follow each other's moves, the game remains interactive and engaging throughout. There’s almost no downtime—players must remain diligent, constantly watching for ways to leverage the actions of their opponents to their advantage. Each player’s turn represents an opportunity for everyone to take action!

While Citizens of the Spark is mechanically sleek and generally quick to play, it’s far from shallow. A core facet of the game is the customizable and variable setup. The game’s true magic lies in the clever combinations of citizen powers you can create or discover as you play. With 30 different animal types to choose from, totaling millions of possible combinations, no two games are ever the same.

Whether you’re planning to pop off the perfect power combo or carefully holding back your most powerful citizens for the right moment, Citizens of the Spark rewards players who can think ahead and manage their resources effectively. The variability in citizen abilities also ensures that you’ll constantly be discovering new strategies, keeping the game exciting even after multiple plays, earning a permanent place in your collection.

Beyond the gameplay itself, Citizens of the Spark stands out for its stunning art and world-building. The animals of Fera are not just creatures—they’re sophisticated, intelligent beings living in a harmonious blend of nature and futuristic technology. The artwork, created by Diego Sá, beautifully captures this world with bright, pastel tones and an oil-painting style that brings each animal citizen to life. History buff and designer Philip duBarry originally designed the game with an ancient Roman setting, which Thunderworks translated into an elegant blend of classical Greco-Roman, Persian, and futuristic Asian influences, creating a utopian society where every citizen is a part of a greater vision.

As a nod to the original setting (and a touch of tongue in cheek humor) duBarry’s original Citizens were kept, but paired with appropriate animals that match their style or function. Pupils, for instance, are a citizen type that can only be converted into a follower of another citizen, amplifying their strength and effectively becoming a clone of their leader. The perfect choice for that kind of citizen is, of course, a chameleon.

Represented by rats, Outcasts are another good example. While rats can be lovely and intelligent creatures, no city wants to be home to too many rats. The more you have, the more Sparks you will lose at the end of the game. Looking for some economic strength? Turn to the raven Merchant, who will no doubt have all the shiny bits and bobs you seek. But be careful if you have too many unguarded Merchants, because the Bandit squirrels in neighboring cities might come to steal from your bounty!

Shine On

Citizens of the Spark is a game positively glowing with mechanical genius brought to life with clever combos, beautiful artwork, and endless strategic possibilities. With high-quality components (including a box insert featuring removable lidded trays, card deck dividers, glittery Spark cubes, and space for sleeved cards) combined with fresh experiences every time you play, you’ll never get tired of introducing this game to others. Lead your city to greatness, harness the power of your animal citizens, and may the spark of intelligence guide you to victory!