Maya

About this board game

Maya is a tactical card- and building game for 3–5 players, played in approximately 90 minutes, set during the heyday of Mayan culture.

Players take part in the construction of pyramids at important Mayan centers such as Chichen Itza and Palenque. Their goal is to receive the greatest portion of gold from the Mayan leaders, making each building effort part of a larger contest for reward.

Constructing pyramids requires more than simply choosing a building site. Players need the help of workers to quarry and transport the stones required for the pyramids to the appropriate building sites. This gives Maya a strong logistical focus alongside its card- and building-game framework.

• Players: 3–5
• Playing time: about 90 minutes
• Setting: the major centers of Mayan culture
• Core activities: quarrying stone, transporting materials, and constructing pyramids

Maya was released in 2003 and was published by Abacus in the company’s familiar box format, the same size used for titles such as Hare and Tortoise and Canyon. The game was the first title by designer Bernd Eisenstein, with editing by Grunspan.

With its combination of cards, construction, workers, and stone transport, Maya focuses on the practical work behind monumental pyramid building. Players who enjoy tactical games built around developing prominent sites and pursuing valuable rewards will find a clear historical setting in which to compete for gold.