Wadi

About this board game

Wadi is a quick tactical board game for 2–4 players that takes about 30 minutes, set in the heat and drought of ancient Egypt. Players build shadoofs near a seasonal desert river, then pump scarce water toward reservoirs and fertile land.

The wadi carries water for only a short part of the year. Each round, players build shadoofs and pump water pawns, competing for the best locations and trying to act before the river flows downstream or runs dry.

• Build one shadoof and pump one water pawn, in either order; or pump two water pawns.
• Draw water from the river bed or from a nearby land tile.
• At the end of each round, water remaining in the river bed moves one river tile downstream.
• Score water pawns around each shadoof according to the fertility of the land.

Every surrounding land tile, including the shadoof’s own tile, can score when it holds a water pawn. Fertility determines whether that water is worth 1, 2, or 3 points, making the placement of shadoofs and water especially important.

Players may compete for the same valuable building spots and water sources, while also benefiting from water another player has pumped onto a land tile. However, the game’s placing rules can make those opportunities less straightforward than they first appear.

The game ends when the river bed is completely empty. Several included scenarios add variety, while Wadi offers a somewhat more strategic experience with two players. Careful timing, tactical positioning, and a constant struggle for water shape every game.