Viva Catrina
Viva Catrina at your next game night?
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- Designer Fred Boulle , Grégory Grard
- Publisher The Flying Games , 25th Century Games , Board Game Flare , Elephant Games 大象桌游 , HUCH!
- Illustration Jérémie Fleury
The description, FAQ and assessments for this game were generated with the help of artificial intelligence from the game data and reviewed editorially. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
What to Expect
You enter a festive Día de los Muertos atmosphere and place tiles to grow a village. According to the publisher, you draft available tiles, create paths to connect butterflies and visitors, build pedestals to attract chimeras, and launch balloon flights to score. Efficiently creating connected networks is key, as misplaced tiles can block routes and make objectives unreachable. The game features a light race for chimera and balloon tiles while your village comes to life.
Who Is This Game For?
Suitable for families and hobby gamers: age 8+, 2–6 players. With a playtime of about 30 minutes it's short and fits multiple plays in an evening. Some familiarity with tile placement and drafting helps, but it is not an expert-level title.
How It Works
Core mechanics are Tile Placement and Open Drafting: each turn you choose from available tiles and place them in your area. Matching and Connections mechanics require you to build routes and networks (Network and Route Building). Points come from connected butterflies, visitors, pedestals for chimeras, and balloon flights. Careful placement and planning are important because blocked paths can prevent goals from being achieved.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Fred Boulle and Grégory Grard, Viva Catrina uses a Día de los Muertos theme (Country: Mexico) and blends Tile Placement, Network and Route Building, and Open Drafting in a short, accessible package. The thematic focus on La Catrina and festival elements shapes the game's identity.
Pro
- Short playtime (~30 minutes) — good for repeated plays
- Combines Tile Placement, Open Drafting and Network and Route Building
- Strong Día de los Muertos theme with La Catrina and festival motifs
- Scales for 2–6 players
Contra
- Misplaced tiles can permanently block objectives — potentially punishing for new players
- Not aimed at players desiring long, deep strategic engines
- Building effective networks requires some understanding of connection mechanics
Setting & atmosphere
Set in the colorful Día de los Muertos festivities of Mexico, the game centers on La Catrina, butterflies, visitors, chimeras and balloon flights. The theme drives the tile motifs and objectives.
Tips for beginners
Focus on creating simple, reliable connections first and avoid placements that cut off multiple routes; plan your draft choices with future placements in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
No. The data lists the game for 2–6 players; no solo mode is provided.
How long does a game really take?
The listed duration is about 30 minutes; teaching and setup may extend a session slightly.
What prior experience do I need?
Basic experience with tile placement and drafting is helpful; the game targets families and hobby gamers rather than experts.
How does this compare to similar games?
Viva Catrina mixes Tile Placement with Network and Route Building plus Open Drafting in a short, thematic package, making connections central to scoring.
Is this suitable for families?
Yes. With a minimum age of 8 and a short playtime, it's family-friendly if younger players grasp placement and connection ideas.
What mechanic makes it special?
The interplay of Tile Placement, Connections and Network and Route Building, together with Open Drafting, defines the gameplay.
Fazit
Recommendation: If you like short, thematic tile-laying games with tactical network building, Viva Catrina delivers focused sessions in about 30 minutes. Players seeking long, complex strategy games should look elsewhere.
Viva Catrina at your next game night?
Add Viva Catrina to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
Add Viva Catrina to my collectionAlready have an account? Log in
