Mariposas (2020) Board Game
Mariposas is a board game released in 2020 by designer Elizabeth Hargrave, known for her previous successful game Wingspan. The game is published by Alderac Entertainment Group and is focused on the migration of monarch butterflies. Players take on the role of butterfly enthusiasts who strive to guide their butterflies through their life cycle and migration journey.
## Game Components of Mariposas
– Game board featuring a hex map of North America from Mexico to Canada
– Butterfly tokens for each player, separated into four generations
– Movement cards
– Flower tokens
– Waystation tokens and lifecycle cards
– Goal cards for each season
– Special ability tokens
– Dice for determining random flower tokens
## How To Setup Mariposas
To set up Mariposas, each player selects a color of butterflies and separates their tokens into the four numbered generations. Each player starts with a hand of two action cards. The board is set up with the spring goal card revealed, while the summer and fall goal cards are covered. Players place their first-generation butterflies in Michoacán. A smaller lifecycle board is set aside with special ability tokens.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **Gameplay Seasons**: The game is split into three seasons (Spring, Summer, and Fall), each with a specific number of turns (4, 5, and 6 respectively).
– **Movement and Reproduction**: On each turn, a player plays one movement card to move their butterflies and collects flower tokens or waystation tokens. Landing on a milkweed symbol allows reproduction using the collected flower tokens.
– Generation 2: 2 identical or 3 any flower tokens.
– Generation 3: 3 identical or 4 any flower tokens.
– Generation 4: 4 identical or 5 any flower tokens.
– **Seasonal Goals**: Each season has its own goal card that is scored at the end of the season.
– **End of Season**: After each season, the previous generation of butterflies is removed, and the next goal card is revealed.
– **Final Scoring**: Points are scored for the number of fourth-generation butterflies returned to Michoacán, with additional points for waystation lifecycle cards.
## Player Experience
Mariposas offers a engaging and thematic experience where players manage the migration of monarch butterflies across North America. The game is easy to learn but requires strategic planning to maximize points. Players can employ different strategies, such as focusing on returning fourth-generation butterflies or collecting waystation tokens. The game is enjoyable with 2 to 5 players and plays relatively quickly, typically within 45-75 minutes.
### Pros
– **Thematic Adherence**: The game perfectly captures the theme of monarch butterfly migration.
– **Easy to Learn**: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to a wide range of players.
– **Strategic Depth**: Different strategies can lead to varied gameplay experiences.
– **Beautiful Components**: High-quality tokens, cards, and the main board are visually appealing.
– **Replay Value**: 20 different season goal cards offer significant replayability.
### Cons
– **Waystation Tokens**: The randomness of waystation tokens can make set collection challenging and less effective as a strategy.
– **Initial Chaos**: The first game can feel chaotic until players understand the mechanics and objectives.
## Personal Thoughts on Mariposas
Mariposas is ideal for those who enjoy family-friendly and middle-weight games with a strong thematic focus. It appeals to players looking for a game that is both easy to learn and offers strategic depth. The game’s beautiful artwork and nature theme make it a great addition to any board game collection, suitable for both casual and experienced gamers.
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