Maji (2019)

It‘s dusty, hot and dry. The Serengeti is no desert, but in the summer, especially when the rain stays off, it is essential to provide enough water for the people and cattle herds. The village community voted that a new well is required, for the next dry season will be harder than ever before. Smart people with knowledge about the vast savanna and the ability to find water and clay deposits are called to build the best well. This task is difficult enough, but the wild buffaloes are also interested in the waterholes and they do not hesitate to destroy the wells under construction. Maji is an abstract strategy game for two well-builders from 10 years played on a 5x5 grid of Serengeti tiles, which show adobe bricks, buffaloes or waterholes. The goal is to finish a well consisting of six well pieces and gather enough water gems, before the other player does. —description from the designer