# Gaivotas ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2023 - **BGG Rating**: 7.5 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 3-5 (Best with: 4, 5) - **Duration**: 30-40 min - **Weight**: 1.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Bruno Miranda - **Artists**: Pedro Índio - **Publishers**: TGM Editora - **Categories**: Animals, Card Game - **Mechanics**: Set Collection, Simultaneous Action Selection ## Verdict Perfect for those looking for a quick, funny filler with that delightful tension of 'did someone pick the same as me?'.Fast and dynamic gameplayVery easy to learn rulesDirect and fun interactionCatchy thematic visualsLimited strategic depthEvent luck can impactRECOMMENDED ## Description Ever wondered what it's like to be a seagull? In Gaivotas, that's exactly your role: diving into a frantic competition for fish, trying to build the best collection while avoiding chaos in the sky. The game unfolds in rounds where several fish cards are revealed on the table. The catch? You and your friends secretly choose which fish you want to snag and reveal your decisions simultaneously. If you're the only one eyeing a specific fish, congratulations, it's your snack! But if another seagull has the same idea, it turns into a flurry of flapping wings, and nobody gets the fish—you might leave empty-handed or just grab whatever scraps are left on the fisherman's boat. The strategy doesn't end with the catch. To score points, you must arrange your fish in a line, creating 'shoals' (fish of the same species placed next to each other). It's a game of reading your opponents and bluffing: will everyone scramble for the biggest fish, or is it smarter to take a smaller one to secure the points? To spice things up, Event cards introduce unexpected twists, forcing players to adapt their tactics on the fly. For those seeking a deeper challenge, the advanced mode introduces special cards that unlock new paths to victory. With simple rules and quick sessions, it's the perfect game to kick off a night or introduce to newcomers, blending the tension of simultaneous selection with the satisfaction of set collection. ## How to Play Game Objective In Seagulls, the sea is full of fish of all colors and sizes! Seagulls gather for another day of fishing, but you need to be prepared, as treacherous winds, hungry sharks, large marine animals, and even other seagulls will do everything to hinder your fishing. The central objective of the game is to catch Fish Cards to form Schools in your personal collection and fulfill secret Objectives. The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Preparation (Setup) Shuffle the Fish Cards to form the Sea Deck and place it face down on the table. The Special Cards are kept in the game box, as they are only used in Advanced Mode. Reveal 5 Fish Cards (for 4-5 players) or 4 Fish Cards (for 3 players) from the Sea Deck and position them to the right of the deck to form the Sea Row. Place the Fishermen's Boat to the right of the Sea Row and reveal 3 Fish Cards (for 4-5 players) or 2 Fish Cards (for 3 players) from the Sea Deck, positioning them below the Boat. Shuffle the Event Cards and place them face down to the left of the Sea Deck. Each player takes a set of Seagull Cards of their chosen color. For 3 players, return the number 5 Seagull Card from each set to the game box. Randomly deal one Objective Card to each player. Keep it secret from other players. The player who most recently went to the beach receives the First Player Token. Game Flow Each round of Seagulls is divided into 4 distinct phases, which occur in the following order: Planning Event Fishing End of Round The game progresses round after round, following these phases, until one of the end-game conditions is met. Actions and How to Play The game is divided into rounds, each with the following phases: 1. Planning In this phase, it's time to plan your move! Each player chooses a Seagull Card from their hand and places it face down on the table. The number on the chosen card indicates which card in the Sea Row the player intends to catch. 2. Event The First Player reveals an Event Card from the Event Deck and follows its instructions. If the revealed card is a Clear Sky, nothing unexpected happens this round. 3. Fishing All players reveal their Seagull Cards simultaneously. Starting with the First Player and proceeding clockwise, each player attempts to catch the card from the Sea Row corresponding to their Seagull Card to add it to their collection. Collision: If two or more players reveal Seagull Cards of the same number, a Collision occurs, and none of those players catch the card from the Sea Row. Starting with the First Player and proceeding clockwise, each participant in a Collision must, if possible, choose a card from the Boat to add to their collection. It is possible that some players will not catch cards this round. Cards caught from the Sea Row or the Boat are added to each player's personal collection. The first card is placed face up on the table in front of them, starting a row. From the second round onwards, all new cards must be added to the left or right of one of the end cards, never between two cards. 4. End of Round In this phase, players organize the game for the next round: Each player returns the used Seagull Card to their hand. All remaining cards in the Sea Row and the Boat are shifted to the right, and new cards are drawn from the top of the Sea Deck to fill the empty spaces. The First Player passes the First Player Token to the next player clockwise. End of Game and Scoring The game ends immediately when one of the following conditions is met: There are no more cards to completely fill the Sea Row. There are no more cards in the Event Deck. After the game ends, each player sums the points from the Schools they have in their collection and the Objectives fulfilled on their Objective Card. Common Schools: Worth 2 points each. Quality Schools: Worth 3 points each. Objectives: Worth 0 to 5 points, depending on the objective fulfilled. The player with the most points is declared the winner! In case of a tie, the player with the most Superior Quality Fish becomes the winner. Collecting Fish Caught cards are added to your personal collection. The first card is placed face up on the table in front of you, starting a row. From the second round onwards, all new cards must be added to the left or right of one of the end cards, never between two cards. Completing Schools Schools are formed by Fish of the same type in sequence in a player's collection row. Large Schools are formed with 3 Fish, while Small Schools require 5 Fish. Each School is worth 2 points, regardless of the fish type! Quality Schools Schools that contain at least 1 Superior Quality Fish become Quality Schools, worth 3 points. Having more than one Quality Fish in the same School does not change its score. Optimizing Schools Schools in a row can be considered from left to right or vice versa, depending on the player's intention. Double Fish Cards can be used to form two different Schools. Tips for Winning Consult the manual for details on this section. ## FAQ ### Is it hard to learn? Not at all! It's very intuitive. In a few minutes, you'll be catching fish and fighting with other seagulls. ### How long does a game last? Usually between 30 and 40 minutes, making it great for playing multiple rounds. ### Can I play with a small group? The game is for 3 to 5 players. With fewer than 3, the 'fight' for fish loses its charm. ### Is it suitable for children? Yes! Due to its simplicity and animal theme, it's an excellent gateway game for kids. ### What changes in advanced mode? You get special cards that allow for new strategies, moving beyond simple set collection. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 89,00 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0CPBBPH9T?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - **Brechó Lúdico**: R$ 85,10 (https://brecholudico.com.br/produto/gaivotas/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Tubaleria**: R$ 86,40 (https://tubaleria.store/produtos/gaivotas/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/gaivotas