Mottainai

About this board game

Mottainai is a quick, deep card game for 2–5 players that plays in around 30 minutes. As an acolyte in a temple, you perform tasks, collect materials, and sell or complete works for visitors.

The game’s name means “Don’t waste,” or “Every little thing has a soul,” and that idea shapes every decision. Each card can serve as a task, a material, or a work, giving your choices several possible uses and making careful planning essential.

Choose tasks to unlock actions, but remember that other players will get to follow up on your task during their next turn. This creates a constantly shifting puzzle as you weigh your immediate plans against the opportunities your choices may give to your rivals.

• Multiple uses for every card: Treat cards as tasks, materials, or works.
• Follow-up actions: Other players can follow your task on their next turn.
• Works with special abilities: Combine their effects to support your plans.
• Material management: Decide which materials to keep and which to sell.

Success depends on combining your works’ special abilities effectively while managing the materials you sell. The result is a compact experience with substantial strategic depth, where efficient use of every card matters.

A successor in the Glory to Rome line, Mottainai offers a focused game of task selection, resource decisions, and flexible card use. Its short playing time makes it approachable, while the many possible roles of each card reward thoughtful planning.