Kavango

Conservation as a management problem, which is what it actually is.

Kavango is set in the transfrontier conservation area that spans Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe — the largest on earth. You are working to establish and protect wildlife populations across it, balancing what a habitat can support against what you can afford to do about it. It is a handsome production with a subject most games would render as decoration and this one takes seriously.

Underneath the theme it is a fairly demanding euro: resource management, area development, and a scoring structure that rewards planning several turns out rather than reacting. Solo play is included and well supported. It is not a gateway game — expect a proper session and a first play spent working out how the pieces relate.

Perfect for: The player who wants a heavy game about something other than trading in the Mediterranean.

1–4 players | 90 minutes | Age 12+