If you thought Terra Mystica was already deep, get ready to set sail! In Merchants of the Seas, the factions decide that staying landlocked is no longer enough and venture into the rivers. The star of the show here is the introduction of ships, which open up an incredible tactical range. Now, you can use your fleet to trade with other players, earning victory points and resources depending on the building you deliver to. Interestingly, the player receiving the opponent's ship also gains power, creating a strategic 'mutual aid' dynamic.

To manage this new logistics, the Shipyard is introduced—a new large building that allows you to upgrade your shipping range and produce more ships. Each faction gets its own board extension, ensuring that unique abilities remain balanced and exciting. But don't think ships are just for trade; they can be used to 'dig' and build Dwellings in adjacent hexes, adding a movement layer that completely changes how you approach the map.

Beyond the nautical side, the expansion brings plenty of content to keep games fresh: 12 new round scoring tiles, new Favors, bonuses, and power actions. For those looking for a change of scenery, there are two new maps: Lakes and Fjords. The best part is that many of these elements, such as the maps and scoring tiles, can even be used with the base game if you want to spice things up without overcomplicating the experience. Also, if you already own the Fire and Ice expansion, don't worry: those factions are fully supported by the Merchants of the Seas content. It's the perfect dose of extra complexity for those who love optimizing every move and dominating the board.