The game blends card-driven strategy with spatial planning. Each turn, players use terrain and animal cards to place land and animal tokens on a modular board. Expanding habitats, building chains of land, and connecting to water sources or visitor centers are key to scoring points. Strategic placement unlocks powerful actions, while viewing platforms and water tiles offer long-term advantages.
This edition of Hacienda introduces several major changes from the second edition: a fully modular board that scales with player count, a brand-new card-based action system that replaces the original currency mechanism, and a completely reimagined theme focused on conservation and eco-tourism. It also features upgraded wooden components for animals and land markers, adding a premium tactile feel. For even greater variety, the game includes variable board powers via special Visitor Centers that add new layers of strategic depth and replayability.