Rising Waters

Friends and Communities with Rising Waters

Description

Rising Waters is a cooperative board game that drops you into the midst of the devastating 1927 Mississippi flood, where the African American community must confront not only the rising waters but also the racism of white landowners. As a member of this community, you'll draw on hidden strengths like family, church, music, and education to resist the forces against you. The game is played on a hex-based map of the Mississippi River and surrounding lands, where you'll work with up to three other players to save your homes, families, and communities over the course of several rounds, each representing a week during the flood. As the floodwaters rise, you'll need to minimize losses and keep your family and neighbors alive, all while negotiating the arbitrary demands of the white landowners. But you won't be powerless - Community cards will give you the tools to upgrade your abilities and resist racism, with cards like blues, farm animals, church, garden, family, and education providing a sense of agency and sources of power. The game serves as a powerful illustration of the difficulties faced by African Americans in the Jim Crow South, and it's designed to spark challenging conversations about the endemic nature of racism and how it complicates life during a crisis. With simple rules that can be explained quickly, Rising Waters is accessible to new players, but its depth and complexity will keep you coming back for more. In Rising Waters, your goal is to keep the losses to a minimum and survive the worst of the flood. If you and your fellow players can work together to stay below the maximum level of losses for a certain number of rounds, you'll win the game. With a playtime of 60 to 90 minutes, Rising Waters is a game that will challenge you and leave you thinking long after the waters have receded. Designed by Scout Blum and released in 2023, Rising Waters is a game that will appeal to fans of cooperative games, area control, and set collection, as well as those interested in environmental and political themes. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or just looking for a new challenge, Rising Waters is a game that's sure to make a splash.