Mariposas is a beautiful game about the beautiful migration Monarch Butterflies make from Michoacan to as north as Canada and back. We have been learning about Monarch butterflies over the summer and even found our own caterpillar and watch it form a chrysallis and transform into a butterfly. It was a wonderful experience for the kids to see and when I got Mariposas, they were trilled by it. The game does a great job incorporating their development across 4 generations each year and only the 4th generation butterflies return home.
In Mariposas (@aegminions @alderacentertainment) you use movement cards to have your butterflies travel north and collect flower tokens everywhere they end their movement. If you reach a milkweed station you can stop and reproduce (trade in tokens to add a new generation of butterflies).
As you travel you will also reach major cities that allow you to collect cards. Collect all 4 of a color and you get a bonus (which could be adiditonal actions or end game points). If you are first to reach a city you will get a bonus (from a die roll).
Each season lasts about 4-6 turns. At the end of each season you score points based on the season card, which often requires you to have butterflies in certain areas of the board.
By the last turn you want to get as many 4th generation butterflies back home to score more points.
The game is a simple move and collect game. It has a nice amount of strategy with the variable scoring cards for each season that has you trying to play the cards you have the best you can to achieve those positional goals. It is absolutely beautiful and does a great job incorporating real world aspects of the Monarch migration.
We highly recommend this for any family with an interest in butterfly migration!