Mariposas

Mariposas is a beautiful game with a fun theme that's easy to pick up and learn. It's a lot simpler than Wingspan, which is also designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. In fact, its simplicity is one of its biggest strengths, as it makes it accessible to a wider range of players.

The game is about migrating monarch butterflies, and you play as a family of butterflies trying to make it back to Mexico. Each season (spring, summer, and fall) presents different challenges and objectives. You move your butterflies across the map, collecting flowers along the way, which you can then use to spawn new butterflies. The goal is to get your butterflies to the highest level and back to Mexico by the end of the fall season.

The game's mechanics are quite straightforward, and the rules are easy to understand. Even my eight-year-old daughter picked it up quickly. The gameplay is fun and engaging, and the artwork is absolutely stunning. The butterflies are beautifully crafted wooden pieces, and the board is vibrant and colorful.

My only criticism is that the waypoint system can be a bit frustrating. The game encourages you to collect sets of waypoints, but it's often difficult to find time to do so. You're usually too busy trying to get your butterflies to the highest level and back to Mexico. While it's a good idea in theory, it doesn't play out as well in practice.

Overall, Mariposas is a great game for families or anyone looking for a fun and engaging experience with beautiful artwork and a simple but satisfying gameplay. It's not as complex as Wingspan, but it's still a solid game with a lot of replay value. I highly recommend it.