gamedotty

Connecting players, creators, and communities through the joy of play.

Discover

Game CafesBoard GamesEvents (Coming Soon)

Creators

CrowdfundingPlaytesting (Coming Soon)

Company

ContactTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy

Connecting through the joy of play

© 2026 gamedotty. All rights reserved.

gamedotty
  • Games
  • Venues
  • Events
  • Crowdfunds

Vanuatu

2 - 5
12
1.5 hr
Default avatar

Alain Epron

7.2
Economic
Nautical
Strategy
Tropical

Game Description

In Vanuatu, you are a Vanuatuan who wants to prosper during the eight turns of the game. In order to prosper, you have to manage with natural resources, rare items, vatus (local currency) and tourists. To earn money or prosperity points, you may also draw on the sand*, carry tourists all over Vanuatu islands, or trade cargo with foreign countries. On each turn, the archipelago expands and you have to program your actions with five tokens. You put one or more of them on the chosen action spaces, and on your turn, you will only be able to play an action if you have the majority on its space. Thus, sometimes have to wait for other players to remove their tokens by playing their actions. If you are not in majority anywhere, you have to remove all of your tokens from an action and give up hope of playing this action. A good strategy lets you block other players; for example, they won't be able to sell fishes if they haven't caught them first – order matters! Islands and sea resources are rare, so be quick and take them first!

There is no such thing as a rich Vanuatuan. When you reach ten vatus, they automatically transform into 5 prosperity points and again, you are poor. Life is hard, but you may encounter ten men to help you; on each turn you choose one of them to increase your benefits from an action. As always, being the first player lets you choose before the others.

In short, Vanuatu is a strategy game of programming and majorities that features development, blocking, and a lot of interaction between players.

(*) Sand Drawing in Vanuatu belongs to the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of the UNESCO.

Share

Games You Might Like

Cover image of 18Mag: Hungarian Railway History
6.9

18Mag: Hungarian Railway History

1 - 62 hr – 4 hr
Economic
Trains
Cover image of 1923 Cotton Club
7.6

1923 Cotton Club

2 - 445 min – 1 hr
African Americans
Card Game
Cover image of After The Empire
7.7

After The Empire

2 - 41 hr – 2 hr
Economic
Fighting
Cover image of ArchRavels
7.4

ArchRavels

2 - 430 min – 45 min
Economic
Fashion
Cover image of Ark Nova
8.5

Ark Nova

1 - 41.5 hr – 2.5 hr
Animals
Economic
Cover image of Blume
6.5

Blume

1 - 420 min – 45 min
Economic
Flowers
Cover image of Boonlake
7.9

Boonlake

1 - 41.3 hr – 2.7 hr
American West
Civilization
Cover image of Brick & Mortar
7.7

Brick & Mortar

2 - 41 hr – 2 hr
Economic
Cover image of CATAN: 3D Edition
7.5

CATAN: 3D Edition

3 - 41 hr – 2 hr
Economic
Cover image of Cape May
7.5

Cape May

1 - 41 hr – 2 hr
City Building
Economic
Cover image of Card Rails
6.7

Card Rails

3 - 520 min – 45 min
Card Game
Economic
Cover image of Carnegie
7.8

Carnegie

1 - 42 hr – 3 hr
Economic
Industry / Manufacturing