# Tikal ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1999 - **BGG Rating**: 7.3 - **BGG Rank**: #381 - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 90 min - **Weight**: 2.78 / 5 - **Designers**: Michael Kiesling, Wolfgang Kramer - **Artists**: Christophe Swal, Franz Vohwinkel, Mariusz Gandzel, Paul Mafayon - **Publishers**: Ravensburger AG, Super Meeple, ABACUSSPIELE, CMON Global Limited, Conclave Editora, DV Games - **Categories**: Adventure, Ancient, Exploration, Territory Building - **Mechanics**: Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Auction / Bidding, Events, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, Kill Steal, Layering, Map Addition, Modular Board, Set Collection, Tile Placement, Victory Points as a Resource, Zone of Control ## Verdict If you enjoy games with exploration, action allocation strategy, and tight majority disputes, Tikal is a fantastic choice. A classic that still shines!Rewarding explorationTense action managementEngaging area majorityHigh replayabilityElegant rulesetProne to analysis paralysisFierce direct interactionTheme can be abstract for someHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description In Tikal, you don the hat of a fearless explorer, delving into the dense jungles of Central America in search of lost temples and hidden treasures. The game is a strategic race where each player leads a team of explorers, gradually uncovering unexplored terrain. As new areas are revealed, you encounter ancient temples that need to be excavated and precious treasures waiting to be collected. Each turn, players have a limited number of action points to spend on various activities: moving their explorers across the hexagonal map, revealing new terrain tiles, excavating temples to increase their value, or collecting artifacts. The area majority mechanic is crucial, as you score points by controlling temple sites and by possessing the most valuable treasures. Tension builds with events that can shift the game's flow, and intelligent management of your action points is key to success. The ultimate goal is to accumulate the most victory points, whether by dominating temple locations or securing the most lucrative artifacts. Tikal is the first title in the acclaimed Mask Trilogy, a series of games developed by the designer duo Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, renowned for its strategic depth and elegance. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Welcome, intrepid explorers, to the heart of the jungle! In Tikal, you are an archaeologist leading an expedition to uncover the secrets of ancient Mayan temples and hidden treasures. Your goal is to gain the most victory points by excavating temples, discovering treasure, and controlling valuable locations. The explorer who best manages their actions and strategically places their team will be crowned the ultimate master of Tikal! Preparation (Setup) Setting up Tikal is like preparing for a grand adventure. Here’s how to get started: Each player chooses a color and takes their set of 10 explorers and 2 camp tokens. Place the game board in the center of the table. Shuffle the hexagonal jungle tiles face down and stack them into several piles near the board. Place the treasure tokens (value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) into a bag or a designated area where they can be drawn randomly. Place the temple levels (value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in a supply near the board. Each player places one of their camp tokens on the starting space (marked with a camp symbol) on the game board. Determine the first player. You can roll a die, or the player who most recently visited a historical site goes first! The Game Turn A turn in Tikal is all about making the most of your 10 action points. When it's your turn, you can perform any of the following actions, spending points as indicated: Draw a new jungle tile (1 action point): Take the top tile from any face-down stack. Place a jungle tile (1 action point): Place the tile you just drew onto the game board. Tiles must be placed adjacent to an already placed tile or your starting camp. Move an explorer (1 action point per space): Move one of your explorers from one tile to an adjacent tile. You can move multiple explorers or move one explorer multiple spaces. Excavate a temple (variable action points): If your explorer is on a temple tile, you can spend action points to increase its level. Each level increase costs 1 action point. Temples can be excavated up to level 5. Discover treasure (variable action points): If your explorer is on a treasure tile, you can spend action points to discover treasure. The cost depends on the treasure token's value. Once discovered, take the treasure token and place it in front of you. Set up a new camp (3 action points): If you have an explorer on a tile, you can remove that explorer and place your second camp token on that tile. Camps are permanent and provide a base for future movements. You can perform these actions in any order and repeat them as long as you have action points remaining. Once you've spent all your 10 action points, your turn ends, and play passes to the next player. End of Game and Scoring The game of Tikal is played over a series of rounds, punctuated by scoring phases. There are two scoring phases during the game, triggered when specific jungle tiles are drawn. The final scoring occurs at the very end of the game. Here's how points are tallied: Temple Points: For each temple, the player with the most explorers adjacent to or on that temple scores points equal to the temple's current level. If there's a tie, all tied players score the full points. Treasure Points: Each treasure token you've collected is worth its face value in victory points. Camp Control: At the end of the game, each camp you control (meaning you have the most explorers adjacent to it) might also provide bonus points, depending on the specific tiles around it. After the final scoring, the player with the highest total of victory points wins the game! Tips for Winning To truly master Tikal, consider these strategic pointers: Control Temples Early: Don't underestimate the power of early temple control. Even a level 1 temple can give you points if you have the most explorers around it during a scoring phase. Efficient Movement: Plan your explorer movements carefully. With only 10 action points, every move counts. Try to move explorers to locations where they can perform multiple actions (excavate, discover treasure, or prepare for future control). Strategic Camp Placement: Your second camp is a powerful tool. Place it strategically to create a new hub for your explorers, allowing you to access distant parts of the jungle more efficiently and establish control over key areas. ## FAQ ### How many players does Tikal support and what's the playtime? Tikal is designed for 2 to 4 players, and a game typically lasts between 90 and 90 minutes. It's a perfect duration for a strategic gaming session without overstaying its welcome. ### What is Tikal's complexity level? Tikal is considered a medium-complexity game, with a BGG weight of 2.78/5. It offers strategic depth without being overly complicated, ideal for those seeking a thoughtful challenge. ### What are Tikal's main mechanics? Core mechanics include Action Points, Area Majority/Influence, Grid Movement, and Exploration. You'll spend your action points to move explorers and reveal the map, vying for control of temples and treasures. ### Is Tikal part of a game series? Yes! Tikal is the first game in the acclaimed Mask Trilogy, created by the duo Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. The other titles are Java (or Cuzco) and Mexica. ### Who is Tikal recommended for? Tikal is highly recommended for players who enjoy strategic Euros, with a focus on action optimization, area control, and exploration. If you like to think ahead and compete for majorities, you'll love it! ### Are Tikal's components good quality? Recent editions of Tikal generally come with good quality components, including sturdy terrain tiles, explorer figures, and temples that help immerse players in the Mayan exploration theme. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 57.58 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6724673&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/310/tikal?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com