Manila*
Manila is an engaging and speculative board game for 3-5 players, centered around the bustling world of maritime trade. Players take on the role of investors, speculating on and betting against a variety of goods shipments – jade, ginseng, silk, and nutmeg – as they make their precarious journey along sea routes to Manila. The game is a blend of strategy, risk, and luck, with the fate of each shipment ultimately being decided by dice rolls.
Gameplay Overview
- Speculative Trading: Players bet on the success or failure of different shipments.
- Harbour Master Auction: Win the auction to become the harbour master, influencing which goods are shipped and their likelihood of success.
Special Features
- Dynamic Shipments: Choose which shipments to send and manage their risks and rewards.
- Dice-Determined Outcomes: The uncertainty of each shipment's success adds excitement and unpredictability.
Conclusion
Manila is perfect for families and groups looking for a fun, easy-to-learn game that combines elements of strategy, chance, and speculation. The game brings to life the vibrant and risky world of maritime trade, offering a unique and engaging experience for players of all ages.
Nominated for 7 awards.
- 👥 3 - 5 Players
- ⏱️ 60 Minutes
- 🧒 10+ years old
- 🧩 Easy to learn
We like Manila so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2026
- Position 4 in All "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année"🇫🇷 2006 winners & nominees compared.
- Position 4 in All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2005" game award winners & nominees in comparison
- Position 54 in Best games released at SPIEL 2014 in Essen
- Position 29 in The best "Deutscher Spielepreis"🇩🇪 award winners and nominees
- Position 6 in The best games by Franz-Benno Delonge 👨
- Position 8 in The Best Games Where You Can Hold Shares in Goods, Companies, or Countries
- Position 8 in The best games where you can hold stocks 📈 in goods, companies or countries
- Position 9 in The best games where you can raise your bid until you pass
- Position 4 in The best games where you can take loans 🏦
- Position 11 in The best games with commodity speculation
- Position 16 in The best logistics/transportation board, card & dice games 🚚
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