
- BGG rank
- BGG #91
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Maracaibo
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders
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.
Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders is an expansion for Pirates of Maracaibo released in 2026 for 1–4 players, 30–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alexander Pfister and Ryan Hendrickson and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Dice Rolling.
Provisions, the crew, and above all, heaps of treasure: all of this takes up space on board. Now is the time to adapt your boat to meet every challenge and finally set sail across the Caribbean in a magnificent ship! With Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders, you’ll launch new ships and adorn them with two new figureheads. A stylish starting player token rounds out this third expansion for Pirates of Maracaibo. And once again, it’s time to cast off—the treasures are calling! —description from the publisher
Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders supports 1–4 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 Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders is 30–120 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 Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders 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.
Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders belongs to these categories: Exploration, Adventure, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, 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 Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders are: Alexander Pfister and Ryan Hendrickson. 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 Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders as an expansion for Pirates of Maracaibo. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Pirates of Maracaibo to use it. Check that your edition of Pirates of Maracaibo is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.