
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,510
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Llamaland
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2021

Rules assistance for Cacao: Chocolatl
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cacao: Chocolatl is an expansion for Cacao released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Phil Walker-Harding and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up.
Cacao: Chocolatl features four modules for the Cacao base game, and these modules can be used individually or in any combination with the other modules. 1. The chocolate module includes three chocolate maker tiles, three chocolate markets and twenty wooden chocolate markers. Chocolate is made out of cacao at the chocolate maker tiles and can be sold at a high price but only on special markets. 2. The huts module includes twelve double-sided huts you can acquire during the game. They give their owner special powers during the game or extra points when fulfilling specific conditions. 3. The irrigation module includes three special plantations where you can harvest a lot of cacao fruits but must pay with water. 4. The maps module includes a preview board for two more tiles that are visible near the draw pile. Each player receives two map tiles at the beginning of the game, and for each tile spent they can also choose from the preview board when filling up spaces on the board.
Cacao: Chocolatl supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cacao: Chocolatl is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cacao: Chocolatl for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cacao: Chocolatl has a complexity rating of 2.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cacao: Chocolatl belongs to these categories: Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cacao: Chocolatl are: Phil Walker-Harding. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cacao: Chocolatl as an expansion for Cacao. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Cacao to use it. Check that your edition of Cacao is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.