Salton Sea

About this board game

Salton Sea is a strategy board game for 1–4 players, with sessions lasting about 120 minutes, in which players manage geothermal lithium extraction companies and compete to earn the most points.

Set in California near the border with Mexico, the game draws on the Salton Sea’s salty waters and intense geothermal activity. Players drill the ground, extract brine, and process it to obtain valuable lithium—an industry positioned far from fossil fuels and toward a renewable energy future.

On your turn, place one of your four engineers on an available action space. Careful engineer management is central to the game, as every placement helps shape the efficiency and direction of your company.

• Industrial actions: obtain an exploration license, drill, extract, process, or repair machinery.
• Commercial actions: sell lithium, acquire contracts, or execute contracts.
• Management actions: research, buy shares, develop your business project, or finance your company.

There is no single route to success. Salton Sea rewards different approaches, including exhausting land, completing contracts, pursuing short-term objectives, developing your company, and advancing your research.

Designed by David Bernal and illustrated by Amelia Sales, Salton Sea challenges you to balance extraction, processing, commerce, and long-term development. Will you master the power of this unique location and create the most efficient geothermal company?