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Macau Board Game Review — Build a Portuguese Trading Empire! (Macau - Portuguese China)

524 views · Published 3 July 2016 · 3:08 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: Mike Martins · 2016 · Gaming

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Hey guys, Mike Martins here with another quick board game review from the shop!

Today we're taking a look at Macau, a strategy board game built around the historic trading city and its connection between Portugal, China and European commerce.

In the game, you're essentially taking on the role of a wealthy merchant, developing your operations in Macau, completing contracts and shipping goods back to different European cities in an effort to make money and accumulate victory points.

One thing I really like about Macau is that the basic rules aren't incredibly long. The game may look complicated when you first see the board, cards, dice and different components spread across the table, but once you understand how the system works, there's a very clever strategy game underneath it.

One of the most interesting mechanics involves rolling dice and placing resources around your wind rose. As the rounds progress, the wheel rotates and those resources eventually become available. That means you're constantly planning several moves ahead.

You also have contracts and cards to complete. If you keep taking on work without actually completing it, you're eventually going to run out of room—and that's when the game starts punishing you.

Mistakes can become expensive very quickly.

There's also a drafting element where players choose from available cards, meaning you're constantly deciding which opportunity is most valuable to your strategy while knowing another player might grab something you need.

The game runs for 12 rounds, with multiple phases during each round, and the player who finishes with the most victory points wins.

Overall, I really like Macau. It's strategic without requiring a gigantic rulebook, but don't mistake shorter rules for an easy game. You need to plan ahead, manage your resources and make sure you're actually completing what you start.

This is another quick review because I know there are plenty of long board-game reviews online. Sometimes you just want somebody to show you the game, explain the basic idea and tell you whether it's worth checking out.

Thanks for watching, guys, and don't forget to subscribe!

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