Samoa

About this board game

Samoa is a card game for 2–4 players that takes about 25 minutes to play. Across three rounds, players collect feathers and decorate five masks, trying to create the most colorful designs while secretly working out who owns which mask.

Each player receives a mask, but ownership remains hidden. On a turn, the active player reveals a card from the deck and places it above or below one of the masks. Players can play colored or black cards, gradually building each mask until it has five feather cards and points are awarded.

The twist is that the owners of the masks—and the owners of the points—are identified only at the end of the round. Correctly guessing who owns a mask earns bonus points, but there is a risk: if everyone correctly identifies a mask’s owner, that player loses.

• Secret identities: Deduce which mask belongs to each player.
• Feather collection: Build masks with colored and black cards.
• Elemental effects: Water, fire, and air can change the party.
• Press-your-luck scoring: Chase points while avoiding a fully revealed identity.

The island’s elements add uncertainty to the developing designs. Sometimes the sea brings additional feathers, while the wind combined with a campfire can burn a feather. These effects can alter the value and appearance of the masks before scoring.

With three chances to score, Samoa combines hidden ownership, deduction, card placement, and push-your-luck decisions in a compact party game. Decorate the masks, disguise your identity, and decide how far to press your luck before the feather party ends.