Concordia - Balearic / Cyprus
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Design & Art
Lingua
⚠️ Avvertenze
Pairs well with
FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
That game where you sold the fish at just the right time. Or the one where you colonized the wrong island. Concordia is unforgiving, but it always makes you believe your next move will be the winning one.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Two maps that change the rules of the game
Mac Gerdts returns to the ancient Mediterranean with two maps that revolutionize the Concordia experience. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera) introduce a unique starting setup: no capital city, but two ships already at sea. On the reverse side, Cyprus offers a more classic but equally challenging experience. Art by Marina Fahrenbach.
The real novelty is the fish market: a resource that replaces the Prefect's bonuses and opens up a chain of choices that didn't exist before. Sell fish to get goods, money, or special actions. Provinces that don't produce double their fish catch. It's an extra layer of planning that transforms even games played on the base map.
What they say abroad
"Balearica adds a delicious wrinkle to an already stellar game."
Balearica aggiunge una piega deliziosa a un gioco già stellare.
— Meeple Mountain
Il mercato del pesce è quella variante che non sapevi di volere. Fino a quando non la provi. Poi diventa parte del gioco.
— FroGames
Concordia: Balearica / Cyprus
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat's Inside
Two maps, a new resource, infinite combinations
Balearic Map
Four islands, starting at sea, no capital. You colonize by sea and only later can you build on land. It changes the entire beginning of the game.
Cyprus Map
On the reverse, Cyprus offers a more traditional but equally intense challenge. Perfect for those looking for new geography without overhauling mechanics.
Fish Market
A separate board where you sell fish for goods, money, or extra actions. Provinces that don't produce double their fish catch: you have to decide whether to wait or sell immediately.
Two ships per player
On the Balearic map, you start with two ships already in the water. You don't build from the capital: you conquer the islands from the sea, and only then expand by land.
In two hours you'll discover that Prefect move on turn 4 cost you the victory. It always happens with Concordia.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Open Sea Start
On the Balearic map, there is no home city. You have two ships already at sea and must decide which island to colonize first. The others are looking at the same map. Whoever arrives first takes the best province.
The First Catch
You play the Prefect and instead of taking the usual bonuses, you collect two fish. The province that did not produce this turn gives you double. You begin to understand that there is a new chain of choices to manage.
Full Market
You have six fish. You can sell them all at the market for goods, money, or special actions. Do you wait another turn to accumulate more? Someone sells before you and takes the action you wanted. Timing is everything.
Land Expansion
After colonizing the islands, you build the first land settlements. Now the game resembles classic Concordia, but with the fish market continuing to offer alternative routes. Those who have planned best see three moves ahead.
Final Count
Someone plays Tribune and triggers the end. You count personality cards, colony points, accumulated goods. The game is decided by two or three moves made twenty minutes ago. Someone is silent. Someone compliments.
How to play
The flow of each turn
Concordia Balearica uses the action card system of the base game, with the addition of the fish market.
Choose a card from your hand (Mercator, Prefect, Colonist, etc.) and apply the action. Some cards are exhausted until you retrieve them with the Tribune.
If you play the Prefect, you collect fish instead of the classic bonuses. Provinces that did not produce in the last turn give you double. Keep an eye on who produces what.
At any time during your turn, you can sell accumulated fish at the market: choose a column and take goods, money, or special actions based on how many fish you sell.
With the acquired resources, build new settlements, buy personality cards, or move your ships/colonists. On the Balearic map, you start from the islands and only then expand by land.
Why it's different from the others
Six reasons why Balearica changes Concordia
Radical start
On the Balearic map, there is no capital city. You start with two ships at sea and must colonize the islands before expanding by land. The first three moves are completely different from any other Concordia game.
Universal fish market
It's not just for the Balearic map: the fish market can be used with any Concordia map. It becomes a permanent variant that adds depth without overcomplicating the rules. Once you try it, you won't take it out.
Provinces that don't produce
If a province has not generated resources in the last turn, it doubles the catch. This creates a dynamic of waiting and speculation: you wait for a province to be inactive to collect double, but meanwhile, others are moving.
Two maps in one box
Balearics on the front, Cyprus on the back. Two completely different geographies, two distinct strategic challenges. Cyprus is more classic but equally sharp, perfect for those looking for a new map without overhauling the game system.
Special actions from fish
Selling fish at the market doesn't just give you goods or money: you can get extra actions, free moves, or other options that don't exist in the base game. It's a third resource channel that unlocks new strategies.
Combinable with everything
The fish market works with all Concordia expansions: Britannia, Germania, Gallia, Corsica, Aegyptus. It's not a closed module, but an upgrade to the game engine. You take it to all maps.
How it ends
How to win
The game ends when someone plays the Tribune and all personality cards of at least two deities are exhausted. Points are counted.
Victory conditions
- You accumulate victory points from personality cards (each card is worth based on your settlements, resources, or controlled cities)
- Each colony and city built is worth points at the end of the game, multiplied by the right cards
- The fish market can give you extra resources that make a difference in the final count
How they trick you
- You waited too long to sell the fish and someone else took the action you needed
- You colonized the wrong islands and don't have enough resource diversity to buy personality cards
- You played too defensively and others built twice as many colonies as you did
Balearica is not an expansion that adds content for quantity. It adds choices that matter, and a fish market that changes the game forever.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Concordia: Balearica / Cyprus
Can I use the fish market with other Concordia maps?
Yes, it's designed for that. It works with any map: base game, Britannia, Germania, Gallia, Corsica, Aegyptus. It's not tied to the Balearic map. Once you try it, it becomes a permanent variant that many players no longer remove.
Is the Balearic map harder than the base map?
Not harder, but different. You start with two ships at sea and no capital: the first moves are tactical, not strategic. You must colonize the islands before expanding by land. If you already know Concordia, it takes five minutes to adapt. If it's your first game, it's better to start with the base map.
Do I need the base game to play Balearica?
Yes, Balearica is an expansion. You need the cards, tokens, resources, and rules of the base Concordia game. This box only contains the two maps (Balearics and Cyprus) and the fish market.
Does the fish market slow down the game?
No. It adds an optional step in the turn (sell fish whenever you want), but it doesn't prolong the game. If anything, it speeds up some phases, because it gives you access to resources or actions that you would otherwise have to get in two or three separate turns. The duration remains around 90 minutes.
Is this edition in Italian?
Yes, this is the Italian edition published by Cranio Creations. Maps, rulebook, and fish market are all in Italian. You don't need to know English to play.
Concordia: Balearica / Cyprus is an expansion for 2-5 players designed by Mac Gerdts, author of the hand management and rondel system that has made Concordia one of the pillars of modern eurogames. The box includes two maps: the Balearic Islands with an open sea start and the fish market, and Cyprus on the back for those looking for a more classic geography. The fish market is a new mechanic combinable with all Concordia maps, which introduces an additional resource and a layer of strategic choices. Duration 90 minutes, age 12+. Published in Italian by Cranio Creations. Available on FroGames.it.
Concordia - Balearic / Cyprus
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.