Quick Takes:
2-5 players 
45-75 minutes 
Ages 10+ 
Level 1 (easy to learn, easy to play, and FUN!)
Famed board game designer Elizabeth Hargave (behind Wingspan) has done it again! Mariposas is her next big box game, recently released in 2020. Simpler and lighter weight than Wingspan, the theme behind Mariposas is the seasonal migrations of beautiful monarch butterflies across the eastern US and Mexico. Fun fact related to the theme: every spring, millions of monarch butterflies leave Mexico to spread out across eastern North America. Every fall, millions fly back to Mexico. However, no single butterfly ever makes the round trip. "Mariposa" means butterfly in Spanish.
As a player, you represent a group of monarch butterflies over the course of three seasons. Your group will move across the map using movement cards. As you travel, collect blossom tokens which enable your butterflies to breed when they are next to a milkweed (the host plant of monarch butterflies!). Timing your breeding is important to make sure you can get the right amount of butterflies to the right areas on the board at the end of each season based on the scorecard.
Waystations (special preservation areas in major cities) provide another source of points. Landing on a waystation grants a bonus (life-cycle card, bonus card or flower) which adds to your total points at the end. After the three seasons, the player whose butterfly group has amassed the most points wins.
Why we chose this game for Board's Edge:
- Beauty. From the beautiful box cover art to the artful and functional pieces, this board game is one you can (and will want!) to display.
- Fun for the whole family -- we recommend this one for families with elementary age or older children. It's great for family game night as it strikes the balance between interesting for adults and fun for kids.