The Voyages of Marco Polo

The Voyages of Marco Polo is a highly acclaimed Euro-style strategy board game that immerses players in the historic travels of Marco Polo as he journeyed along the Silk Road. Designed by Daniele Tascini and Simone Luciani, the game combines dice-placement, resource management, and clever planning to create a rich, replayable experience for 2–4 players.

Each round, players roll their personal set of dice, which represent the strength of their actions. These dice are placed on various action spaces—allowing players to gather resources, earn money, purchase contracts, or travel across the map. The twist comes from the variability in dice values: low rolls make certain actions cheaper for opponents, while high rolls open powerful opportunities. Even “bad” rolls can be useful, thanks to multiple ways to mitigate or adapt to changing luck.

Travel is central to the game. Players move their merchants across Asia, from Venice to Beijing, establishing trading posts in key cities. Each city provides unique bonuses, abilities, or trade advantages, creating branching strategic paths. Completing contracts—by delivering silk, gold, pepper, and other goods—earns points and rewards, driving players to balance movement, trading, and resource gathering.

A standout feature is the asymmetric character powers. Each player starts with a unique historical figure offering a rule-breaking ability—such as traveling farther, manipulating dice, or gaining resources more efficiently. This asymmetry ensures fresh experiences each game and encourages diverse strategies.

The game is tight, competitive, and rewards long-term planning, but also offers tactical flexibility. Beautiful artwork and thematic components bring the Silk Road atmosphere to life. With depth, replayability, and elegant mechanics, The Voyages of Marco Polo remains a favorite among strategic board gamers and is often considered one of the best dice-placement games ever designed.