Conquest of Paradise

Explore the Pacific, colonize island groups and decide whether to invest in warriors, canoes or surfing.

Designer: Kevin McPartland
Published by: GMT Games
Editions by: PHALANX

The Polynesian Triangle is a lot of ocean, and in Conquest of Paradise (2007) you are about to cross it. You build canoes, send them out into unknown waters, discover island groups and colonize the best ones. Then comes the work of keeping an empire: training warriors to defend it, building lines of communication between the islands and spending scarce resources wisely. Investing in culture can pay off in surprising ways, from tattooing and hula to surfing and the giant moai of Easter Island. It plays two to four, or solo, in about an hour and a half.

Polynesian Triangle themeIncludes a solo modeCulture investments like tattooing and moai

Who it's for

You enjoy lighter empire-building with an unusual setting, and also want a solo option.

Not for you if…

You want heavy, tightly engineered strategy. Dice and events play a real part here.

Vibe's take

Expansionist with a reasoned pace. You push into unknown waters, face events and dice, and keep weighing growth against defence, with a solo mode for when no one is around.