Creature Caravan

A new threat lurks in the land of Arzium. Ember zombies swarm from volcanic lands to the south, their charcoal bodies the walking hives of evil fire fairies. The closest haven is the city of Eastrey, where a powerful artifact protects the inhabitants. You must travel across the desert and the plains, over mountains and through red canyons, helping wandering creatures of every shape and size to the safety of the city.

In Creature Caravan, players build a card tableau of creatures while traveling through a magnificent and dangerous land. Players take turns simultaneously, placing dice on actions on their cards, moving their caravan on the map, and playing new creature cards. Players also compete to trade goods and rare coins in a shared market, search the mysterious white towers, and fight ember zombies as they travel. The game ends when one player reaches Eastrey. The player with the most points wins.

The game includes 134 cards, each with a unique illustration and combination of actions and abilities. Simultaneous gameplay allows one to four players to play together without increasing the game's length, with the Wanderers expansion (sold separately or comes inside the Deluxe Edition) allowing for up to six players.

What People Are Saying

"Perfect — Will play every chance I get." — Meeple Mountain

BGG Community Rating: 8.0 / 10

"It felt like diving into a welcoming adventure book. The unique cards and variable combos offer plenty of replay value, sparking post-game chatter about creature engines and synergies." — Meeple Mountain

What players love:

• 134 completely unique creature cards — nearly half the deck stays unseen each game, so every playthrough feels different
• The engine-building puzzle — finding synergies between your creatures is deeply satisfying and always evolving
• Simultaneous play — everyone acts at the same time, keeping the pace brisk even at full player count
• Gorgeous art — Ryan Laukat both designed and illustrated the game, and every card looks like a page from a fantasy novel
• Plays great solo — a full solo mode lets you chase high scores at your own pace
• A world worth returning to — fans of Above and Below, Near and Far, and other Arzium games will feel right at home

If you love Everdell-style creature card games with a sense of adventure and discovery, Creature Caravan belongs on your shelf.

Game Mechanisms

Worker Placement with Dice Workers Each turn, players roll five dice and assign them to actions on their player board and creature cards. Most actions require a minimum die value to activate, so the dice you roll determine your options — but clever planning and the right creatures can stretch even a poor roll into a productive turn.

Tableau Building As you recruit creatures to your caravan, they're laid out in front of you, each adding new abilities, passive bonuses, and scoring opportunities. The goal is to build a collection that works together — creatures that reduce costs, boost movement, or unlock free actions can turn a modest caravan into a well-oiled adventuring machine.

Multi-Use Cards Creature cards serve multiple purposes — they can be played to your tableau for their abilities and points, or discarded for immediate resources when you're in a pinch. Deciding whether to keep a powerful card for its long-term engine value or spend it now for food or coins is one of the game's core tensions.

Simultaneous Play All players take their turns at the same time, each managing their own dice rolls and actions independently. This keeps the game moving at a steady pace regardless of player count, and means your 90-minute adventure feels like 90 minutes of actual play — not waiting.