Via Magica

Fill objective cards with symbols drawn from a bag and race to complete seven.

Designer: Paolo Mori
Published by: Hurrican
Editions by: Rebel Sp. z o.o., MINDOK, Reflexshop, Oliphante

Via Magica is a 2020 retelling of Rise of Augustus, a bingo-meets-drafting race to complete objective cards. Every card shows two to six symbols that you cover with tokens. Symbols are drawn from a bag one at a time and everybody benefits equally, but the bag holds more of some symbols than others, so you learn to read the odds. The big decision comes at the start: from six cards you keep three, weighing how hard each is against the victory points and special powers it pays. Each time you complete one you pick a replacement from five. The game ends when someone has finished seven. Two to six players, about 30 minutes.

Bingo-style symbols drawn from a bagPick three of six objectives at the startSpecial powers for every completed card

Who it's for

You want a quick game with a bit of luck and a pre-game puzzle about which goals to chase, for two to six.

Not for you if…

You want to control outcomes. The bag decides what everyone gets.

Vibe's take

Light-hearted and tense in short bursts. Everyone watches the same draws, so the real game is in which objectives you picked and how greedy you dare to be.