Nimalia

About this board game

Nimalia is a 30-minute board game for 2–4 players about designing an animal sanctuary within a maximum 6×6 layout. Across five rounds, players draft cards, place biomes, and adjust their sanctuaries to pursue the objectives that matter at each stage of the game.

Each card contains four biomes, with one animal in each biome. At the start of a round, players draw three cards, place one, and pass the remaining cards in a simple drafting phase. When placing a card, you must cover at least one biome, creating an evolving sanctuary as new cards are added.

• Draw three cards, place one, and pass the rest.
• Build a sanctuary that never exceeds 6×6.
• Cover at least one biome whenever you place a card.
• Score according to the objectives active in each round.

Every game features a different pool of scoring objectives. Only some of the chosen objectives count during each round, so a sanctuary that scores well early may need to be modified as the game progresses. Careful card placement and ongoing changes to your layout are central to earning points.

After the fifth round, players total their points. The player with the most points wins. With its card drafting, spatial placement, changing scoring conditions, and compact play time, Nimalia challenges players to keep their sanctuary flexible while working toward the best final score.