Giganten is a financial management game thematically set in the Texas oil boom of the 1920's. The large, trifold board depicts oilfields and possible drill sites, a rail line that marks game length, as well as players' ability to deliver oil they produce, and oil storage and price boards for each of the three oil companies.
Each turn has several phases. First, the unit price for each oil company is modified by a die roll. Then, a red action card is turned over and the black train advanced by the number indicated on the card. The game ends when this train reaches the end of the track. Next, a number of yellow action cards equal to the number of players are turned over. Both red and yellow cards provide movement points and oil licenses. Additionally, some cards have special actions which allow players to adjust an oil company price or move all other players' trains backwards or gain a free unit of oil. Players choose an action card in turn order and then each player executes all actions on the card. Movement points may be split between trucks and trains.
Players explore the oilfield and examine the drill sites using a truck. Trucks start at the left edge of the oilfield and may move orthogonally about the board. Drill sites are represented as one, two, or three derricks. Single derrick sites are cheapest to build on but produce the least oil, while three derrick sites cost the most and produce the most oil. One catch in exploration is that players may secretly examine any one or three derrick site they move their truck next to, but can’t look at two derrick sites until they announce their intent to build there.
After all players have competed movement and special actions, they may build a well. After construction is completed, all wells produce. Train tracks run along the lower edge of the board, with players' trains moving from left to right. For a player to deliver oil to market at no cost, his train must be advanced along the track at least as far as his wells. If he has an oil-producing well farther along than his train, he may pay another player who has a train advanced that far a transportation fee, the same to the bank if the black train is advanced that far, or he may dump the oil and pay no one.
Once oil has been delivered, players bid for the right to sell their oil stored at each company. Bids are made using licenses acquired from action cards. Separate auctions are held for each company and only the high bidder at each may sell oil there that turn. If any player has more than two units of oil in storage at any company after the auction for that company has ended, he loses them with no compensation.
The game ends when the black train reaches the end of the track. All players with wells and oil units on the board receive partial compensation for them and money is tallied. High total wins.
Giganten plays in about 90 minutes, probably less with experienced players. Game mechanics are simple and easy to grasp. There is a clear opening, mid- and end game, each with varying strategies. The action and license card elements work particularly well to balance competing desires. Often, you wish to move your truck and train in order to build a new well and get the oil to market. However, if you take that high movement point card, you'll be sacrificing the license cards you may need to win an auction and earn the right to sell your oil. Nothing is more painful than having a stack of 5 or 6 units of oil in a company where you lose the auction. Losing the excess units with no payback can be a crushing blow. You must constantly balance you own cash producing plans (build here, sell there) versus your defensive actions (move opponents' trains back, drop this company's price), all the while being watchful for what your opponents' are planning on doing to you.
To date, I have played Giganten three times. The fact that I've won all three games might be assumed to color my opinion. However, the comments I have received from the 8 other people I have played with indicate that my opinion is shared by them. To wit, Giganten is a solid game, worthy of purchase. It's mechanics are simple enough for casual gamers but it offers enough depth of strategy to satisfy serious players, as well.