# Botswana ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1994 - **BGG Rating**: 7.0 - **BGG Rank**: #1342 - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 20-30 min - **Weight**: 1.28 / 5 - **Designers**: Reiner Knizia - **Artists**: Charlie Bink, goo, Piotr SokoĊ‚owski, Weberson Santiago - **Publishers**: AMIGO, 25th Century Games, AURUM, Inc., Eagle-Gryphon Games, Esdevium, Fantasy Flight Games, Mandoo Games, Midgaard Games, Milton Bradley, Muduko, New Games Order, LLC, Nexus Editrice, PS-Games, Siam Board Games, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd. - **Categories**: Animals, Card Game - **Mechanics**: Commodity Speculation, Hand Management, Open Drafting, Stock Holding ## Verdict Perfect for those seeking a quick filler with strategic depth. Its strength lies in the constant tension over the final values.Rules explained in two minutesGenuine psychological tensionCharming thematic componentsFast and dynamic gameplayCan be frustrating if you hate 'take-that'Simplicity might deter heavy gamersRECOMMENDED ## Description You know those games that seem painfully simple but leave you racking your brain trying to predict your opponent's next move? Botswana is exactly that. Designed by the legendary Reiner Knizia, this game is an exercise in speculation and nerves of steel disguised as a safari. The premise is straightforward: you have cards numbered 0 to 5, and you must decide where to play them to collect animal miniatures (which represent your 'shares'). The dynamics are a constant tug-of-war. When you play a card of a certain color, you earn the right to take an animal of that same color. The catch? The final value of each animal is determined by the very last card played in that category. If you've hoarded a bunch of zebras, you want the last zebra card to be a 5. But if your friend notices this, they'll try to drop a 0 at the last second to crash your score. The game ends as soon as any one of the colors completes its set of six cards. From there, it's simple math: the number of animals of each species multiplied by the value of the last card of that color. The highest total wins. Botswana has gone through several versions over the years (starting as Flinke Pinke and passing through names like Quandary and Loco!), but the essence remains the same: a fast, tense, and extremely elegant experience. It's the perfect filler to kick off a game night or for those who hate 40-page rulebooks but love a good psychological battle. ## FAQ ### Is the game hard to learn? Not at all! You can explain the rules in under 5 minutes and everyone can start playing immediately. ### How long does a game last? It's very quick, usually between 20 to 30 minutes, making it a great game night opener. ### How many players can join? From 2 to 5 players. It works well in any configuration, though more players make the scramble for animals more chaotic. ### Is it suitable for children? Yes, the rules are simple enough for kids, though the strategy of 'crashing' someone's score can lead to some healthy table talk! ### Are the components good? Yes, the plastic animal miniatures add a special touch and are much nicer than the chips from older versions. ### Do I need to know English to play? No. There is no text on the cards, so there is zero language dependency. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 186,21 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0FMSCRVBT?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/botswana ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 25.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7028312&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/2977/botswana?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com