Kilauea

About this board game

Kilauea is a 2025 board game for 2–4 players, with play lasting about 60 minutes. You represent a Mo’o, a lizard-like spirit from Hawaiian folklore, building Tiki columns to worship Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.

The rules are simple, but the scoring demands constant attention. Each volcano area contains Tiki columns in different colors, while your personal island determines how strongly those colors score. As the game develops, the value of each color changes, and opponents may try to maximize their own score by taking Tikis you need.

Movement uses a rondel as you travel around the volcano on the same island. Once you reach your destination, choose one of three actions:

• Cut down Tikis in the forest.
• Build a Tiki in the volcano.
• Build a Tiki on your personal island.

When the first forest is completely cut down, each volcano area is scored. The same scoring occurs when the third forest is emptied, creating two important moments to prepare for and exploit.

For each area, every piece of the highest Tiki column scores 1 victory point, while each piece in the remaining columns scores 3 victory points. Those points are then multiplied by the number of Tikis of the corresponding color in your personal island. Because the values in the volcano areas keep evolving, every placement can affect your plans and your opponents’ opportunities.

After the main scoring, final scoring may provide additional points. In Kilauea, careful movement, timely forest clearing, and thoughtful Tiki placement all contribute to your attempt to earn the favor of Pele.