Wongamania: Banana Economy (Second Edition) (2019)

Introduction

In Wongamania: Banana Economy, players step into a deliberately unstable economy where bananas function as currency, assets, and political leverage. Every turn revolves around manipulating the flow of bananas—earning income, investing in property and bonds, and reacting to sudden economic shocks that can send fortunes soaring or collapsing without warning.

At the heart of the game is a constant push-and-pull between short-term gain and long-term survival. Income can rise quickly, but debt is never far behind. Poor timing can trigger brutal penalties, while clever positioning allows players to profit from downturns just as easily as booms. The economy is not fair, not predictable, and never forgiving—by design.

Players draft and play cards to influence the market, trigger events, and shift economic pressure onto rivals. When income drops, losses ripple through stocks, property, and bonds, forcing hard decisions about what to sacrifice and what to protect. Staying solvent matters, but controlling when others fall into trouble often matters more.

What’s New in the Second Edition

In the Second Edition, a new open card-drafting system makes economic intent more visible, increasing interaction and tension around every choice. Card effects have been rebalanced to create clearer trade-offs and more meaningful economic swings, while the entire visual presentation—from cards to boards—has been redesigned for better readability and table presence.

The economic cycle board has been streamlined to make the rise-and-fall of income easier to track, and a new Debtzilla meeple adds a tangible reminder of how quickly debt can spiral out of control. Even small details, like restoring the banana die to its iconic yellow, reinforce the game’s identity. An expanded educational guide also helps players understand the underlying economic ideas without turning the game into a lecture.

End Game & Winning

The game ends when the economic cycle reaches its conclusion. At that point, players evaluate their overall financial position across bananas, investments, and liabilities. The winner is the player who navigates the chaos most effectively—emerging with the strongest economy while others buckle under debt and bad timing.