Roman merchants, mancala mechanisms, and Mediterranean trading routes. If that combination sounds like your kind of game night, Ostia: Mariner Edition is heading to shops across the United States and Canada later this year, thanks to a new distribution deal between Crafty Games and Asmodee North America.
Ostia, designed by Totsuca Chuo, puts 1-4 players in the sandals of competing Roman merchants building maritime trading empires in the ancient port city of Ostia. The clever bit is the mancala-driven system at its core. You choose one of six spaces on your personal board, produce resources based on how many ships sit there, then redistribute those ships one by one clockwise. Where your last ship lands determines what action you take. It creates a satisfying puzzle where every move ripples forward into your next turn.
The Mariner Edition refines the original's components and expands on its content, though the rules themselves remain unchanged. Think of it as a quality-of-life upgrade for a game that already earned a solid 7.7 on BoardGameGeek. Crafty Games CEO Alex Flagg said the Asmodee partnership will "significantly expand the reach of Ostia: Mariner Edition" across North America.
If you missed Ostia the first time around, this is your chance. Asmodee's distribution network means you should be able to find it at your local game shop later in 2026. For fans of economic euros with a tactile twist, this one is worth keeping an eye on.
Sources: Gaming Trend | Gameosity | ICv2 | BGG
