Treasures of Cibola

About this board game

Treasures of Cibola is a 20-minute family game for 2–4 players about competing teams of explorers seeking treasure in the legendary City of Gold.

Each turn, players secretly commit a certain number of explorers in a bid. The player who bids the most gains first choice from the available treasure cards, creating a constant contest between committing more explorers now and preserving them for later turns.

However, the ancient temple is unstable. Choosing some treasure cards causes the temple to degrade further, reducing the value of certain treasure types. As the situation changes, players must adapt their plans and reconsider which treasures are truly worth claiming.

• Players: 2–4
• Play time: 20 minutes
• Game length: 8 turns
• Core challenge: Bid explorers for first choice while responding to changing treasure values

The competition is not simply about winning individual bids. A successful explorer must weigh the immediate benefit of a valuable-looking card against the possible consequences of pushing the temple closer to collapse and weakening an entire category of treasure.

After eight turns, players total their points, and the player with the most points wins. With its mix of bidding, shifting values, and tactical adaptation, Treasures of Cibola presents an accessible race for riches where every choice can influence what remains valuable in the unstable temple.