Description
A new ant colony is spreading across a vast territory, but another one has settled in the same meadow. In Marabunta each of you leads your own colony: you send ants to new spaces, collect cupcakes and open crates with special powers. You write numbers with a marker right on the territory board, wipe it clean after the game, and it is ready for the next one. The game was designed by Reiner Knizia.
How to play Marabunta
At the start of a round, the first player reveals a tile from the stack and rolls six coloured dice. They then split the dice and the tile into two groups. The opponent chooses one group and resolves it, and the first player gets what is left. In the next round, you swap roles.
You write a die's number in a free space of the region in that colour, and a zero in any region. It must always be next to a space with your number – only one of your two anthills lets you start somewhere else. Other symbols on the dice fill in a circle on the scoring leaf or cross out a crate, which unlocks a power. The game ends when one region or one scoring leaf is filled, or when the cupcake spaces run out. A region goes to whoever has the higher sum of numbers in it, and they score as many points as there are circles of their colour on that region's leaf.
Why you will love it
- I split, you choose: you divide the dice so you don't offer your opponent anything too good, yet the rest still has to be good enough for you.
- Every number stays: what you write can't be changed, so every entry in a region counts until the end of the game.
- Crates unlock powers such as a three anywhere on the board, three adjacent ones or instant points.
- The territory board is double-sided – on the other side, the blue region is split into several parts and calls for different moves.
Who Marabunta is for
Marabunta is a true duel: it is always played by two, from age 10, and a game lasts 30 to 45 minutes. It is moderately easy to learn, and there is no text on the components. It will delight couples and friends who enjoy short, tense games with plenty of tactics.
What you might not like
Since the game is for exactly two players, it won't suit larger groups. It may also not be the best fit for those who prefer games where everyone builds quietly on their own board, as you and your opponent constantly fight over the same spaces.
What's in the box
- 2 dry-erase markers (red and blue)
- 2 double-sided player boards (1 per player)
- 1 double-sided territory board in three parts
- 8 tiles
- 6 special dice (1 for each region colour)
