- BGG rank
- BGG #1,210
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Container: 10th Anniversary Jumbo Edition!
- 3–5 players
- 75–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,190
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Manila
2005
Rules assistance for Manila
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Manila
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Manila is a board game released in 2005 for 3–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Franz-Benno Delonge and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Loans, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Barges, freight and profits are what it's all about in Manila, a speculative contest for 3-5 players. Goods shipments, intended for transport along sea routes, are in danger of gathering dust in the warehouses or being lost at sea in a storm. While the players speculate about success and failure, the ultimate fate of the ships will be determined by the dice. There are four shipments that need to get to Manila - jade, ginseng, silk and nutmeg. A round begins with an initial auction to become harbour master. If you win, you'll be allowed to buy a share of one of the shipments, choose which three shipments you'd like to take down river and how likely they are to make it to their destination in the harbour. If they make it to Manila, their share price will increase. The aim of the game is to bet on the outcome of these shipments, with dice ultimately determining their fate. How many of the three boats will make it and which ones? Would you like to provide insurance against possible failed ships or perhaps you think pirates will snatch a chance to take control? Manila is a fun family game that takes minutes to learn and brings the river boats of the Philippines to life!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Korea Boardgames
- Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
- Zhiyanjia
- 999 Games
- Rio Grande Games
- Zoch Verlag
- Gigamic
- Competo / Marektoy
- Egmont Polska
- Playte
Questions and answers
Manila supports 3–5 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 Manila 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 Manila for ages 10 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.
Manila 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.
Manila belongs to these categories: Nautical, Pirates, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Loans, 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 Manila are: Franz-Benno Delonge. 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 Manila 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.