Maldivia^*

Maldivia is a family game by Roberto Fraga for two to four players aged 8 and up. Everyone steers fishing boats through thick fog at the same time, and whoever lands the sought-after fish at market within 30 to 40 minutes wins.

What is it about?

Off the island of Maldivia, the fog swallows the sea. Fishing grounds vanish and boats cross each other blind. That is the whole appeal: you cannot see what the others intend, so you have to guess. Read them right and you fish where the space and the catch are. Read them wrong and you row into empty water.

How it plays

1. Everyone plans their move at the same time, in secret.
2. Boats are revealed and moved, riding currents and slipping past sharks.
3. Deliver the right species to a matching market ship at the edge of the foldable board to score.

A big haul alone will not do it. What counts is whether your fish match the species the drifting market happens to want.

Who is it for?

• Families who enjoy simultaneous planning and a bit of chaos.
• Fans of Roberto Fraga's dexterous, inventive designs.
• Groups from eight up with a taste for bluff and prediction.

Conclusion

Maldivia turns poor visibility into a mechanism. The fog delivers laughs and miscalculations in equal measure. If you love shared guesswork, every game sends you off grinning. If you need full control of your moves, the fog will drive you to despair.