A city-building game in which the city would prefer you didn't

You can no longer ignore the impact of zoning and homeowner politics on new housing projects.

Discretionary Review is a city-building simulation game that places players in the role of a San Francisco city planner. The game focuses on the complexities of housing development, incorporating elements of homeowner politics, coalition politics, and the impact of home values. Players navigate the challenges of building in a city with strict height limits and supervisor districts, all while dealing with the

This game frames the housing crisis not as a matter of simple supply and demand, but as a political and social negotiation. By simulating the influence of homeowner associations, NIMBYism, and elected officials, it highlights the real-world friction that often stalls or prevents urban development. The core gameplay loop revolves around balancing the need for new housing with the political capital required to push projects through a complex web of community and regulatory opposition.

Discretionary Review's approach suggests that future urban planning tools, even educational ones, may need to embrace the political realities of development. The game's focus on "homeowner politics" and "coalition politics" indicates a market for simulations that acknowledge and model the human and political factors that shape cities, beyond purely economic or logistical considerations. This could influence how urban planners, developers, and even citizens engage with the process of city building.