- BGG rating
- 8.2
Pirates of Maracaibo: Commanders
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #383
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Pirates of Maracaibo
2023
Rules assistance for Pirates of Maracaibo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 40–100 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Pirates of Maracaibo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pirates of Maracaibo is a board game released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 40–100 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alexander Pfister, Ryan Hendrickson, and Ralph Bienert and its main mechanics are Race, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Pirates of Maracaibo: Bermuda Triangle
- 1–4 players
- 25–100 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Pirates of Maracaibo: Shipbuilders
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- 2026
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About the game
Set sail for an adventurous raid...for perhaps it will be your last! Face danger and adventure once more while you search high and low for the most valuable treasures the Caribbean has to offer, then quickly find a safe harbor to stash priceless gold, rare emeralds, and iridescent pearls. Explore, stockpile cargo, hire crew, and commandeer rival ships, but don't forget to bury your loot. As you sail, be on the lookout for a place to settle after your life on the high seas has come to an end, but before you do that, you must outpace your opponents as one trip around the Caribbean won't be enough. You must make three trips in order to retire as the richest and greatest buccaneer of all time. Pirates of Maracaibo is a standalone game in the same franchise as 2019's Maracaibo, and players who are familiar with that game will recognize some beloved concepts from the original. However, new players can jump right in with no prior knowledge of the original game as Pirates of Maracaibo is an independent game with a more accessible rule set. The game plays over three rounds in which you sail the Caribbean, hire crew, ally with other ships, explore the shore, amass the most treasure, and (ideally) retire to a secluded island as the most revered pirate in history. Cast off sailors and swashbucklers, cast off! —description from the designer Microbadge:
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- Ediciones MasQueOca
- YOKA Games
- Geronimo Games
- Cranio Creations
- MeepleBR
- Capstone Games
- Super Meeple
- dlp games
- BoardBros
- Game's Up
Questions and answers
Pirates of Maracaibo 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 is 40–100 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 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 has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Pirates of Maracaibo belongs to these categories: Exploration, Adventure, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Race, Dice Rolling, 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 Pirates of Maracaibo are: Alexander Pfister, Ryan Hendrickson, and Ralph Bienert. 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 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.