This week the More Than Meeples team shines the spotlight on designer Vital Lacerda. Lacerda board games are known for being challenging and are some of the most interesting games in modern board gaming. We’d like to tell you a little about his personal history, give you details of his design history, and discuss what we think are the best Vital Lacerda games on the market.
If you are interested in Vital Lacerda games or looking to buy board games online, we are always ready to help answer your questions. In addition to games, we also offer graphic novels, collectibles, and modelling supplies to meet your hobby needs.
Personal history
Hailing from Lisbon, Vital Lacerda earned a degree in Marketing and Advertising and worked as an art director for many years. He eventually created his own agency and worked as a freelance graphic designer. In 2009 he published his first game, the Portugal expansion for Age of Steam, and has been a roll ever since. He is passionate about creating and designing games which you can easily see when you play any of his designs.
Game design history
Vital Lacerda games are known for fusing together a variety of rule types, such as set collection and worker placement, to create a complex game space. To be successful at Lacerda board games takes careful planning and smart tactics.
Vinhos, originally released in 2010 through publisher What Your Game?, was his first true game and was a great success. Nominated for several awards it went on to be a 2011 Ludoteca Ideale Official Winner. He published two more games in the next four years, including the smash hit Kanban, with different publishers before settling down with Eagle-Gryphon Games in 2015.
Some of the best Vital Lacerda games have originated through his partnership with Eagle-Gryphon Games. Teamed up with artist Ian O’Toole, Vital produced The Gallerist, Lisboa, and On Mars as well as several other games including a deluxe edition of Vinhos. All of these games were nominated for and won several awards. Vital will release his newest game, Weather Machine, in 2022.
The Best Vital Lacerda Games
Buy the Gallerist Board Game
The Gallerist
Players work to buy, display, and sell art in order to create the most respected gallery in the world. A strategic game that takes a lot of thinking, The Gallerist is also lavishly produced.
Average Playtime: 60-150 minutes
Recommended Age: 13
Number of Players: 1-4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 4.26/5
On Mars
Work to make the most contributions towards the development of Mars first colony. Combines economics, city building, and exploration to make a challenging strategic game. Released in 2020, On Mars has been nominated for several awards.
Average Playtime: 90-150 minutes
Recommended Age: 14+
Number of Players: 1-4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 4.64/5
Buy the On Mars Board Game
Buy the Vinhos Board Game
Vinhos Deluxe
Players need to craft excellent wines and create a prestigious winery to win at Vinhos. An economic and trading game, the deluxe 2016 version of Vinhos updates the older title with new art and rules.
Average Playtime: 60-135 minutes
Recommended Age: 14+
Number of Players: 1-4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 4.04/5
Kanban EV
Maximise the efficiency of your auto department while creating designs that are unique and appealing. A thought-provoking economic strategy game, Kanban EV requires its players to deftly manage their resources and time. Released in 2020, Kanban EV updates an earlier Kanban design with Ian O’Toole’s wonderful art.
Average Playtime: 60-180 minutes
Recommended Age: 14+
Number of Players: 1-4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 4.35/5
Buy the Kanban EV Board Game
Interested in more games?
As your local online board game shop, More Than Meeples wants to help you find the best game for your table. Please get in touch if you would like more information about any of Vital’s games or just to discuss your favourite board games in general!
