Rapa Nui

Between the 13th and 17th centuries, the enigmatic Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, saw the erection of over 900 colossal moai statues. In Rapa Nui, each player becomes a tribal chief who must gather villagers, carve statues, transport them, and raise them on ahu platforms to appease the gods and secure prestige. The game unfolds over turns split into three phases: first, players send their figurines onto the board, choosing between sculptors and carriers; next, using the Pick‑up and Deliver mechanic, moai are ferried along chains of carriers – which may belong to any clan, but using another player’s carrier means giving them resources; finally, once a statue reaches its destination, it can be erected, granting an ahu tile and resources proportional to its size. Collected resources can be exchanged for Offering tiles that award victory points. Controlling routes and owning carriers introduces Network and Route Building and Ownership dynamics, while deciding which moai to sculpt fuels Set Collection. When the number of empty ahus drops to equal or fewer than the player count, the round ends, and the player with the most victory points – earned from Offerings and Outstanding Offering tiles – wins. With vivid components, villager miniatures, and detailed moai tiles, Rapa Nui blends light strategy (weight 2.5) with an immersive theme, perfect for fans of worker placement and transport games that aren’t overly complex.