- BGG rating
- 7.8
Kaivai Expansion
- 3–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,472
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Kaivai
2005
Rules assistance for Kaivai
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.7/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Kaivai
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kaivai is a board game released in 2005 for 3–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Helge Ostertag and Anselm Ostertag and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
Expansions
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About the game
Kaivai, by the Ostertag brothers, is a board game about a dynamically-growing island region and the various uses of the islands. The title is Polynesian and means "Water eaters". The game is about catching fish to trade for shells and points. The shell money is used to build up the islands, in order to gain more points. At the start of the game the players bid for turn order. The highest bidder goes first and may move his ships - but must pay dearly for new islands. Those who bid less get to pay less for the islands, but don’t get to move as much. The players can choose from six different player actions. When a player chooses an action for the first time, it’s free. But if it’s chosen a second time, it must be paid for and the payment increases each subsequent time that action is chosen. At the start of the next round, the value of the shells is reduced and the fish come closer to rotting. After 8 rounds comes the final scoring, in which the portions of the islands controlled by the players are counted. (Spielbox) Expanded by: Kaivai Expansion
Designers
Publishers
- Pfifficus Spiele
Questions and answers
Kaivai supports 3–4 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 Kaivai is 120 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 Kaivai for ages 12 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.
Kaivai has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Kaivai belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling. 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 Kaivai are: Helge Ostertag and Anselm Ostertag. 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 Kaivai 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.