# Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 6.6
- **BGG Rank**: #5283
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 30-45 min
- **Weight**: 1.74 / 5
- **Designers**: Becca Lafair, Joshua Lafair, Louis Lafair
- **Artists**: Julia Semionova
- **Publishers**: Lafair Family Games, Go! Games
- **Categories**: Abstract Strategy, Political
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Enclosure

## Verdict
Abstract strategy fans and politicos will love this. Chess disguised as an election!Addictive like a spatial puzzleFresh political theme done rightQuick and intense matchesGreat for sparking debatesMay frustrate non-abstract gamersDirect interaction is mostly conflictRECOMMENDED

## Description
In Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game, you become a political cartography master, redrawing districts to secure your party's victory. With red elephants, blue donkeys, yellow porcupines, or green leaves, your goal is to manipulate borders to dominate the board. Each turn, you place four fences to enclose districts — whoever has the most voters inside claims the area. It's pure spatial strategy: you must 'pack' opposing voters into few districts and 'crack' your own to maximize advantages. Get ready to create hilariously twisted yet efficient maps! Quick to learn (30-45 min) but packed with twists, it's a hands-on lesson in how politics can be a dirty game... literally. Pro tip: swing counties decide ties!

## FAQ
### Does it work well at 2 players?
Yes! It becomes a tight brain duel, almost like a classic abstract board game.

### Do you need politics knowledge to play?
Not at all. The theme is just a backdrop for pure spatial strategy.

### What's the minimum recommended age?
12+ for strategic depth, but younger teens might enjoy it if they play chess or abstracts.

### Is there randomness?
None, except player order. It's 100% strategy and anticipation.

### Good for family play?
If your family enjoys brainy games, yes! But expect healthy 'political fights'...