Calicut - How to Play (by Axeva Games)
Watch “Calicut - How to Play (by Axeva Games),” a how-to-play guide for Calicut from Axeva Games on BoardGameVideo.
Description provided by Axeva Games on YouTube:
Calicut (2026) - by Axeva Games Buy Calicut at www.axevagames.bigcartel.com! Learn more about the game at www.axevagames.com/calicut -------------------------------------------------------------- CALICUT (by Axeva Games) 2-4 players | Ages 10+ | 20-40 min Trade the most valuable spices from the markets – and black markets – of Calicut and ship them to Lisbon when their demand is highest! An addictive, fast-paced set collection card game for 2–4 players. In Calicut, players compete to be the favored spice merchant of King Manuel I of Portugal! Anticipate and fight for the best spices, by trading and snatching deals in the thriving markets and black markets of Calicut, the heart of the newly established 16th century Spice Trade. Your goal is to ship those spices to Lisbon – the emerging spice capital of Europe – for the highest possible value. Trade among 5 different spices (pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves) from the common market – or take them from the black market filled with spices traded in by other players – and then export them to score at the end of the round. But be careful – not all spices have the same value! And depending on Lisbon’s demand for each spice, the volume – and value – you can export of each spice can change on a whim! On your turn, you can: - Trade your spices for other spices in the market (based on spice type or value); - Confiscate all spice cards from the black market; - Export (score) a set of spices. The amount of a spice you need to export in order to score changes dynamically based on previous exports – the market evolves as you play! Calicut is a set-collection, hand economy game where your score is not guaranteed until the very end. Choosing which spices to commit to, which plays to block your opponent, managing your hand efficiently, predicting the market demand and timing your exports are key to gaining the upper hand. All of this comes together in a simple, fast-paced experience. Calicut will make you think twice before you commit to any action, making every game different and deeply satisfying.
2026·T. F. Machado
2 - 4 players
20 - 40 min
About Calicut, from BoardGameGeek:
In Calicut, players take on the role of spice merchants, trading and collecting valuable spices in the busy markets - and black markets - of 16th century Calicut, at the height of the European/Indian Spice Trade. Each merchant (player) is competing to acquire the best sets of spices and export them to Lisbon, garnering the favor of King Manuel I of Portugal and Europe's ever-increasing demand for exotic spices. The catch? The King's demand for spices is constantly changing. Each card belongs to one of 5 different spices - pepper, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and cloves - and has a value (1-4). On your turn, you may trade spices from the market / black market, or export spices. To trade spices from the market, discard any value from your hand, and then collect spices: of ANY type and with that exact value, OR of a SINGLE type, and equal or lower value. Cards discarded this way are sent to the black market, which players may also choose to confiscate - collecting all spices in there for free! To export (score) spices, look at the Demand Row. The Demand Row dictates how much of each spice are needed for export - either 2, 3 or 4 cards. The two spices with the lowest demand can't be scored at all! When a spice is exported, its demand drops to the bottom, increasing demand for the other spices. Timing in Calicut is key - you must always hold the right sets, at the right time! Time your decisions carefully. Anticipate the demand, read the market, buy at the right moment, and score at the best opportunity to amass the most riches! Moreover, a 7-card hand limit will force you to optimize your actions as best as possible, managing your stock and striking the best balance between spice trading, confiscating and exporting. A round ends when a player scores their 5th set, at which point all player scores are counted. For each of the 5 spices, the player with the highest value collects its respective Demand Card for bonus points, so make sure you score higher than your opponent in as many spices as possible! The first player to win 2 rounds is the winner and the best spice merchant in Calicut! -description from the publisher
Designer
T. F. Machado
Artist
Eva Bernardino
Publisher
Axeva Games
Categories
ArabianCard Game
Mechanics
Market & TradingEnd Game Bonuses
