When I set out to create the card game Manitou, I initially didn’t think much about the audience for the game. Instead I focused on creating a game that would be fun to play, would have a strategic, “puzzle-like” aspect, and would be enjoyable to play again and again. A game for someone like me! I wasn’t intentionally designing a card game for kids. But once the game had taken shape I realized I had to be able to answer the three basic questions that all games must answer: how many players can play, how long does it take to play, and what is an appropriate age range for the players. The answer ..read more

The premier Manitou unboxing video. Courtesy of my big brother. In this five and a half minute video, Chris Kelley offers his first impressions of Manitou. Want to Learn More? Come Join Our Adventure! Do you want to stay up to date on all things Manitou? Consider subscribing to our blog using form to the right. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. The post Manitou Unboxing appeared first on Manitou Gameworks ..read more

We love Manitou the way it is, but can’t stop dreaming up new ways to make it better. We are testing a rule variation that introduces the idea of a “marketplace”. This variation gives players more control of the cards they get to play. It uses the same cards and placement rules that you are used to but changes the way players add cards to their hand. Try It! Interested in giving the new variation a try? Fantastic! Follow the rules that came with your game but substitute the “Setup” and “The Play” sections with the ones listed below. Setup Have each player draw a numbered card from the dec ..read more

Mackenzie and Jonathan (aka Terredice Games) are a married couple who love board games. They recently took a trip to Turks and Caicos and, when they weren’t snorkeling or exploring, beat the heat by playing some of the board games they brought with them. One of those games that traveled with them to Turks and Caicos was Manitou! Manitou Takes the Stage Mackenzie and Jonathan were kind enough to do a review of Manitou while they were in Turks and Caicos. They recently posted their review on YouTube. In the video they provide their feedback on a number of beach-themed games with Manitou taking ..read more

Which packaging option is best for Manitou? That is the question that we’ve pondered for weeks and weeks. The box is, of course, more traditional. It has the advantage of offering more descriptive text and graphics. The tin is more compact, more durable and, well, different. In the end, we put it to a vote on Instagram. The box won out with 76% of the votes. But we’re still not so sure. We love the tin. It feels great in the hand and calls out as if wanting to go adventuring with you. So, for a limited time, we plan to make both the tin and the box available for purchase. You’ll just have to d ..read more

It was exciting to come up with an idea for a new game. But coming up with a name for the new card game proved difficult. The working title that I used, “Islands”, was useful when talking about the project with friends and family. But the name, while descriptive of the game’s central theme, was too generic. I wanted something that was distinctive. Something that would be memorable. And, importantly, a name that would work well on the web. Michigan: The Great Lakes State I proudly call Michigan my home. “The Great Lakes State” is the only state consisting of two peninsulas. These peninsulas are ..read more

Perhaps you’ve heard that eating turkey can make you sleepy. If that’s true, why was it, the night after Thanksgiving dinner, I found myself tossing and turning in bed and finding sleep to be elusive? But the quiet of the night gave me time to ponder the big (and small) questions. Eventually my thoughts wandered to new product ideas. I wanted to create something, but what? A game maybe? A new strategy card game? Sure, why not? Games are cool! Card Game, Board Game or Online Game? I started thinking of games that had a simple mechanic (were easy to learn) but were nonetheless immersive and comp ..read more