Only the greatest conquistadors can conquer this new world and build the happiest colonies in this latest Santa Maria expansion from Aporta Games!

Santa Maria is a strategic dice-drafting engine builder game. In it, players act as explorers settling a colony in the new world. Players endeavor to achieve the most happiness points through resource collection and financial success. After three rounds, or 'years', the game is over and players tally up their score. The player with the most happiness points at the end of the game wins!

This latest expansion, Santa Maria: American Kingdoms includes a new resource, Cacao. It also includes new expansion tiles, new shipping tiles, new element tiles, new scholars, new bishops, and a new cacao town hall. However, perhaps what is most exciting about this latest expansion is the four new modules included.

The Governor travels through the colony, activating buildings and meeting locals. He can also award extra happiness points at the end of the game.

The Specialists are six experts in their field who are eager and willing to help you develop your colony.

The Ambassador Dice is a module which increases the speed of the game and provides further strategic options.

The Mayan City allows an extra player to be added to the game. This is an asymmetrical role, provided with its own individual rules and goals. While this module allows the game to be expanded to five players, it can also be used with the base game for any number of players, including as a solo player.

The Kickstarter pledges also include the option for an additional Exploration Deck, which is a mini-expansion that includes 5 nationality cards and 21 achievement cards. Nationality cards provide players with a unique starting point, while achievement cards provide points and bonuses to players for completing extra objectives.

Santa Maria has received nominations for the International Gamers Award and the Meeple's Choice Award, and this expansion appears to maintain the original game quality. There is also a pledge option which includes the base game, so whether you're a seasoned conquistador or have just landed in the new world, you can back the project here.

Have you played Santa Maria yet? Let us know your gaming experience below!