- BGG rank
- BGG #1,637
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Viceroy
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,335
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Costa Ruana
2014
Rules assistance for Costa Ruana
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20–60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Costa Ruana
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Costa Ruana is a board game released in 2014 for 2–6 players, 20–60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Yuri Zhuravljov and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
In Costa Ruana you are a tribal chief. Send your natives to nearby islands to get your hands on more pirate treasure than your rivals. If you become Shaman, your decisions affect events, so your rivals will try to influence you by fair means or foul... Your aim is to score the most points by having treasures in your hut and natives in your reserve at the end of the fifth round. Treasures are the key: Each round you collect one from each island on which your tribe has a majority (or a minority, if other tribes are tied there). Cards let you move treasures, place natives on islands, bring them home, or move them between islands. In each round everyone plays one card face up in front of ANY player (including themselves), followed by another card, face down (also in front of anyone). Lastly, you may place one native on any played card — even a hidden card played by an opponent, if you are very bold! — to copy its effect for yourself. The background to each card is one of four colors, but in each round only cards of two colors will be resolved, affecting the players in front of whom they are played. The Shaman determines these colors by turning over one of two condition cards. If you are the Shaman, use your power to best effect; otherwise try to outguess the others or influence the Shaman. Remember the number of treasures in other players' huts and manage your natives carefully – a few points can make the difference! Scheming, double-guessing, and bluffing: Welcome to Costa Ruana!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd
- Mandala Jogos
- R&R Games
Questions and answers
Costa Ruana supports 2–6 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 Costa Ruana is 20–60 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 Costa Ruana 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.
Costa Ruana has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Costa Ruana belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence. 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 Costa Ruana are: Yuri Zhuravljov. 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 Costa Ruana as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.