Mangrovia

Place one marker, get two actions and a turn order, and fight for the best hut spots on a Caribbean coast.

Designer: Eilif Svensson
Published by: Zoch Verlag

Mangrovia drops you on a Caribbean coast where you build huts to become the old chief's successor. Each turn you place a single marker on a role board, and that one placement does three jobs: it picks two bonuses or actions and decides in which order they happen, which also sets the turn order. So the question is never just what you want, but when you want it. Chief points come from having the most huts, or the second most, along eight divine paths watched over by stone gods. More points hide in sacred locations, amulets and well-placed huts. Several routes lead to victory, so a bad opening is rarely the end. A meaty, friendly game that sits between family and gamer weight.

One marker picks two actions and turn orderArea majority along eight paths of the godsSeveral viable routes to victory

Who it's for

You enjoy worker placement and area majority and want something with a tropical look that takes about an hour and a half at most.

Not for you if…

You dislike being blocked by other players, or you want a game with a strong story. The jungle is mostly a coat of paint over a tight puzzle.

Vibe's take

Clever and slightly nasty in a polite way. One marker decides a lot, so you watch what your neighbors leave open and sneak into the gaps.