Raiatea (2018)

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Raiatea is a strategic euro-style game set in Polynesia, where players take part in sacred ceremonies to gain the favor of the gods and rise to become the High Priest of their society.

The game unfolds over a series of action rounds and ceremony rounds. During action rounds, players take turns choosing locations that define what everyone can do that round—gathering resources, recruiting priests, acquiring assistants, or improving their standing. The player who selects a location becomes the Kahuna, gaining a small but important advantage by acting first or receiving a bonus.

As the game progresses, players prepare for the ceremonial phases by collecting Ritual cards, building up Mana, and positioning themselves for influence. During each ceremony, players secretly bid Mana to determine ritual order, then place selected rituals into a shared pool. Only the most affordable rituals are resolved, meaning careful planning and timing are essential—overcommitting resources can cause powerful rituals to fail.

Successful rituals and smart resource management allow players to fulfill To’o statue missions, which are a primary source of victory points. Missions may require resources, specific conditions, or winning Mana auctions, and they become increasingly valuable as the game advances.

The game ends after the final ceremony. Players score points based on fulfilled statue missions, achieved rank, certain rituals, and paired mask sets. The player with the highest total guides the Arioi as the new High Priest and wins the game.