Kavango a prototype first impression

🌿 Calling all Nature Enthusiasts! 🌳

Get ready to become a conversation expert and travel into the heart of the Kavango Region of southern Africa with Mazaza Games debut game: Kavango.

The game plays 1-5 players, and it plays in about 15 minutes per player. The game is played over three rounds with ten turns each. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. These points can be earned by introducing new animals to their reserve, completing tasks, and by getting end of game awards.

🚀 Kickstarter Launching in September!

Launching on Kickstarter this September, Kavango promises a gaming experience that combines the thrill of passing cards akin to 7 Wonders and the joy of building your own tableau. The game is reminiscent of Wingspan 🕊️, but it has unique blend of mechanics. The cards are super cute and the iconography is clear and concise.

Gameplay Delight: More than Meets the Eye!

Picture this: a sprawling landscape, vibrant and teeming with life, all on a 3' by 4' area. Yes, you heard it right! Even with three players, we managed to navigate the vast expanse of Kavango, creating our own nature reserves in the process. 🌍👫

What sets Kavango apart is its simplicity and fun factor. The game unfolds in just three rounds, making it an ideal choice for a quick game that brings in strategy and a sprinkle of luck.

🌱 Components

The game comes with a well detailed rulebook, loads of cards:

• conservation expert cards that adds an asymmetric touch to the game

• 160 species cards divided into three separate piles to ensure balance

• action cards

• research task cards

• conservation awards, and

• rewilding cards

Five player boards that include a meeple, money cubes, protection board, and a money supply card in different colors, a central board that keeps track of score, the research cards, a producer die, and the climate protection tracker. Please note that I played a prototype of the game, so there may be some discrepancy on the components I played with.

🏆 Compete and Craft: Building the Ultimate Nature Reserve!

Compete with your friends as you use animal cards and Conservation Awards to craft the most spectacular Nature Reserve. The goal? Achieve the highest score and emerge as the ultimate Conservation Expert! 🏆🐾

🌟 Pros: Why you may love Kavango

Why will you fall in love with Kavango? It's not just a game; it's an experience. Easy to teach, fast to play, and it has gorgeous art. The cards are beautiful, the iconography is clear, and each card has a blurb about the animal. Kavango seamlessly blends entertainment with education.

The central board provides structure to the game as it keeps the score, the research tasks that get replenished at the beginning of each round, and the climate protection area that adds a cooperative sense to the game.

The game plays relatively quickly and it's a simultaneous play, so there's no real downtime for those that get bored easily. The three rounds are spaced out evenly in the sense that higher-value animals come out later in the game, so you can focus on first building your ecosystem to then be able to get more higher-value animals.

🐘 The Elephant in the Room: Size Matters

Now, let's address the elephant in the room—quite literally. The game requires a large space. While this adds to the immersive experience, it may pose a challenge if your table isn't on the larger side. Consider this factor when planning your game nights with a larger group. When I played this game, we managed to play in 3' by 4' table at three players, but it felt very crammed.

🌟 Conclusion: Ready for a Wild Adventure?

Get ready to embark on a wild adventure with Kavango! Mark your calendars for the Kickstarter launch in September and prepare to unleash the conservationist in you. 🗓️🌟 Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the tabletop world, Kavango promises an unforgettable experience filled with strategy, fun, and a touch of education.

I am curious about the final product, and how it plays at 2 and more players.

Happy gaming! 🎲🌿