Buru

Categories: Economic, Exploration, Medieval

Mechanics: Action Drafting, Auction/Bidding, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Solo/Solitaire Game, Turn Order: Claim Action, Worker Placement

Players: 1–4

Ages: 12+

Playtime: 60–75 Min

In Buru, you are a noble of the 14th-century Majapahit empire, a powerful maritime kingdom that dominates the Indonesian archipelago. Under the orders of King Hayam Wuruk and his vizier, the great Gajah Mada, you have set sail to expand the vast mandala of Majapahit through commerce and diplomacy. Arriving at the remote island of Buru, you and your fellow nobles are eager to secure your place in history. On this island, you will send your parties to explore, trade, and pay respects, competing to win over Buru's residents and ultimately gain the favor of the King himself.

Buru is a mid-weight, Euro-style board game for 1-4 players. Over five game rounds, you and your fellow players will secretly deploy explorers to the four different regions of the island to gather resources, recruit islanders, assign them tasks, and pay tribute to the spirits revered there. The goal of the game is to earn the islanders' esteem. You can gain esteem in various ways, primarily by paying tribute, but also by pleasing elders, utilizing local nobles, fulfilling the king's decrees, and holding a totem when any player pays tribute to a specific spirit.

At the end of the game, the player with the most esteem is declared the new governor of Buru!