In Manitou, you are an intrepid explorer discovering and developing new islands in a watery world. But powerful forces are at work against you. Other eager adventurers are trying to distract you from your mission and wreak havoc on your carefully laid plans. Anticipate their actions, set up your defenses, and plan your attack! In a battle of wits, will you be the one to create the most populated island? Players play cards from their hand to develop or destroy islands. In Manitou, you play cards of your own color as well as of your opponent’s color which creates a unique aspect of gameplay. Specialty cards (Whirlpools, Lighthouses, and Bridges) add an additional strategic element enabling players to take either an offensive or defensive posture. After all the cards are played, the winner is the player with the single-most populated island. An island is one or more cards of the same color which share at least one adjoining edge. Each card has a number in the center representing its population and the population of an island is the sum of all the cards that make up the island. —description from the publisher