- BGG rank
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Sea or Shore
- 3–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
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Samoa
2020
Rules assistance for Samoa
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 25 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Samoa
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Samoa is a board game released in 2020 for 2–4 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Lars Jansen and its main mechanics are Take That, Push Your Luck, and Deduction.
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About the game
The feather party starts! In the card game Samoa, each player gets their own mask, but ownership of the masks is secret. The players collect feathers on the beach to decorate the masks as beautifully as possible. In the end, the most colorful masks are worth the most points. The players play colored or black cards to the five masks. They don't know which mask belongs to whom, but they are trying to deduce that information. If they guess correctly, they receive bonus points. If the owner of a mask is correctly guessed by everyone, then that player loses. In turn, the active player reveals a card from the deck and places it above or below a mask. As soon as a mask has five feather cards, points are awarded. However, only at the end of the round will the owners of these points (and the masks) be identified. The game lasts for three rounds, so if you don't score in a round, you will get two additional chances. The elements water, fire, and air influence the party. Sometimes the sea brings additional feathers, while the wind in combination with a campfire could burn a feather. Decorate the masks on the island, mask yourself, and press your luck! —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- HUCH!
- 999 Games
Questions and answers
Samoa supports 2–4 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 Samoa is 25 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 Samoa 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.
Samoa has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Samoa belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Take That, Push Your Luck, and Deduction. 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 Samoa are: Lars Jansen. 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 Samoa 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.