Board Games 🇩🇪Germany21st century

Maracaibo

HEAVY EURO by ALEXANDER PFISTER (2019, Eggertspiele) — SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR to Great Western Trail with pick-up-and-deliver + deck-building + multi-lap Caribbean sailing route. 1-4 players sail Caribbean seas as 17th-century captains carrying out missions for FRENCH, ENGLISH, or SPANISH nations. Features CAMPAIGN MODE (Storyline) with linked scenarios. HELD BGG top-40; considered another Pfister masterpiece + heavier than GWT. ~2-3 hours.

📐Caribbean map with 10-16 space loop + personal player boards⏱~150 min🌤indoor

What is Maracaibo?

MARACAIBO is a HEAVY EURO designed by ALEXANDER PFISTER (Germany), published by EGGERTSPIELE (2019). Spiritual successor to GREAT WESTERN TRAIL (2016, same designer) — replaces Kansas-bound cattle drive with CARIBBEAN SAILING ROUTE, adds CAMPAIGN 'STORYLINE' MODE with linked scenarios. 1-4 PLAYERS sail Caribbean seas as 17th-century captains carrying out missions for FRENCH, ENGLISH, or SPANISH colonial nations. Combines PICK-UP-AND-DELIVER (goods between ports) + DECK-BUILDING (buy cards to expand player's action deck) + WORKER-PLACEMENT (port actions) + MULTI-LAP racing (sail Caribbean loop multiple times). Features 3-NATION reputation tracks + Caribbean city battles + expedition adventures. HELD BGG TOP-40 since release (2019-2026); considered another Pfister masterpiece + HEAVIER than GWT. Won Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2020 nominee + Deutscher Spiele Preis 2020 (top-10). ~2-3 HOURS PLAY TIME. GAMEPLAY: Each player sails Caribbean loop (10-16 spaces around perimeter). Each turn: move ship 1-6 spaces (spend cards to move further), take action at destination. ACTIONS at spaces: buy new cards (deck-building), fight villages (military), gain resources, take assembly points, complete missions. 3 NATION TRACKS (French, English, Spanish) — advance for VP + bonuses. GAME ENDS when time-track reaches end OR someone completes final space X times. CAMPAIGN 'STORYLINE' MODE: 15-EPISODE linked scenarios with permanent character progression (like a light legacy). Non-legacy — no destroyed components. RECEPTION: Golden Geek 2020 nominee; Deutscher Spiele Preis 2020 (top-10); BGG top-40 since release; considered SUPERIOR to GWT by many hardcore fans (deeper, more variable, campaign mode).

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Score most VP end-game (or per scenario in campaign mode) via nation-track positions + missions completed + assembly points + expedition rewards + card deck value.

Rules

Basic rules

Sail 1-6 spaces per turn (cards spent for further moves)
Movement is core resource decision.
Take action at destination space
Buy cards, fight villages, gain resources, missions, assembly points.
3 nation tracks (French/English/Spanish) advance for VP
Reputation with colonial powers.
Deck-building expands action options
Buy new cards from card row.
Campaign 'Storyline' mode: 15 linked episodes
Character carries forward with progression.
Game ends when time-track ends or final space reached X times
Multi-lap racing.

Scoring

End-game VP: nation-track positions + missions completed + assembly points + expedition rewards + card deck value + coins.

Action	Points
Nation-track position	3-15 VP per nation
Mission completed	2-8 VP each
Assembly point	1 VP per assembly
Expedition reward	Varies by expedition
Card deck value	1-3 VP per powerful card

Win condition · Highest VP end-game wins. Campaign mode: cumulative across 15 episodes.

Playing area

Called

Caribbean map with 10-16 space loop + personal player boards

Dimensions

~120×90cm playspace

Caribbean map with sailing loop + 3 nation cities + assembly/expedition tracks. Personal player boards + card decks + campaign log book.

Equipment

Maracaibo base box
$70 USD; complete package including campaign
Maracaibo: The Uprising expansion (2021)
$40; new characters + variants
Central Caribbean board
Sailing loop + 3 nation ports
Personal player boards
Card deck + resources tracking
300+ cards (starter, expedition, mission, character)
Deep card variability
3 nation-track markers (French, English, Spanish)
Reputation tracks
Campaign storyline log book
15 linked scenarios
Wooden ship figures + resource cubes
Standard components

Strategies

Nation focus
Depth on 1-2 nations > shallow on all 3.
Deck efficiency
Prune starter cards; buy powerful expedition + mission cards.
Movement math
Free 1-6 spaces; card-spend for further; balance.
Campaign character growth
Storyline mode: build character deeply across 15 episodes.
Assembly + expedition balance
Assembly = safe VP; expedition = high-risk high-reward.

Terminology

Sailing loop: 10-16 space Caribbean perimeter route.
Nation track: 3 tracks (French/English/Spanish); advance for VP.
Mission: Card task completed for VP + rewards.
Expedition: Adventure card with risk/reward + narrative.
Assembly point: Neutral scoring space; 1 VP per.
Storyline (Campaign): 15-episode linked scenarios with character progression.

Major competitions

Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2020 nominee
annual · worldwide · since 2020
Deutscher Spiele Preis 2020 (top-10)
annual · Germany · since 2020
BGG top-40 consistently 2019-2026
ongoing · worldwide · since 2019

Where it is played

Governing bodies

Eggertspiele / Plan B Games (publisher)
Founded 1998 · Germany / Canada
Alexander Pfister (designer)
Founded 1976 · Germany

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Alexander Pfister (Germany) — Designer; also Great Western Trail, Mombasa, Blackout: Hong Kong
Fiore GmbH — Illustrators

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Buy Maracaibo base ($70)
Complete package including campaign.
2
Play 2p intro game (non-campaign)
Learn sailing + card actions.

intermediate

1
3-4 player games
Sweet spot; more nation competition.
2
Start Storyline campaign
15 linked episodes; character progression.

advanced

1
Uprising expansion
New characters + variants.

Frequently asked

What is Maracaibo?+

HEAVY EURO by Alexander Pfister (2019, Eggertspiele) — spiritual successor to Great Western Trail. 1-4 players sail Caribbean seas as 17th-century captains for FRENCH, ENGLISH, or SPANISH nations. Deck-building + pick-up-and-deliver + multi-lap route. Features 15-EPISODE CAMPAIGN 'STORYLINE' mode. HELD BGG top-40. Considered heavier + more variable than GWT. ~2-3 hours.

Maracaibo vs Great Western Trail?+

SAME DESIGNER (PFISTER). GWT is TIGHTER + MORE FOCUSED (Kansas-bound cattle drive, sharper decisions). MARACAIBO is DEEPER + MORE VARIABLE (Caribbean loop, 3 nations, campaign mode, more card variety). Most say: GWT is BETTER-DESIGNED tighter puzzle; MARACAIBO offers MORE CONTENT + REPLAYABILITY + narrative campaign. Both are excellent + top-40 BGG. Try GWT first for cleaner intro; Maracaibo for deep content.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-27.verified