Samsara

About this board game

Samsara is a deck-building and pawn-moving game for 1–5 players that takes about 60 minutes to play. Your goal is to be the first player to reach Nirvana, using experience, careful choices, and the precious Amulets of Eternity.

In the game, you play an Indian animal with a unique ability. Your animal may be one of several distinctive figures:

• Tiger
• Elephant
• Snake
• Holy cow
• Ape

Each turn, decide which element of your life you want to value. You may focus on having children, advancing your career, or devoting yourself to spirituality. These different choices allow you to gain experience cards as you progress.

Your longer-term objective is to obtain the Amulets of Eternity, indispensable keys on the path to Nirvana. Reaching your goal is not simply a matter of moving ahead as quickly as possible, however.

If you go too fast, you can receive Bad Karma cards. These penalties weigh on your future lives, making the timing of your actions important. The game challenges you to find a subtle balance between good and bad actions while building your way forward.

With its combination of deck-building, pawn movement, unique animal abilities, and meaningful life priorities, Samsara presents a journey shaped by every decision. Released in 2018, it asks whether you can gather the experience and Amulets of Eternity needed to reach Nirvana before your Karma catches up with you.