Welcome to the World of GoCaine

GoCaine is a multiplayer Go strategy board game where 2-6 players compete to build the most lucrative distribution network. It uses area control mechanics from the ancient game of surrounding stones known as Weiqi in China, Baduk in Korea, and Go in Japan.

It is a board game of both area control and of logistical and economic efficiency. Deploy multipurpose security cells to gain control of territory. Use your territories to buy, ship, or sell your product. Build smuggling pipeline infrastructure so you can move more product more quickly to more locations. Buy political influence to help protect your shipments from interdiction operations and to utilize law enforcement to disrupt your opponents’ supply lines.

Whoever can move the most product the most efficiently and the most profitably will be victorious.  Alliances can be made and broken throughout the game, making for lively player interactions.  In the end there can be only one victor, so watch your back!

Cocaine Industry Rendered into Multiplayer Go Game

While the War on Drugs trudges along its futile course, the war for control of the drug trade continues at full throttle. The stakes are high. Forget about the frivolities of excessive wealth such as pet tigers & gold-plated AK-47s.  Drug lords at the very top of the food chain will eventually grow bored with such trappings. 

Those with the grandest ambitions have their sights set on something bigger: total domination of the drug trade, wielding power that can force political leaders to their knees, dictate terms of trade, and even see armies march to enforce one’s will.

Are you ready to compete? Do you have what it takes to become el Jefe de Jefes, the Boss of Bosses, the Monarch of GoCaine?

Map of South America showing cocaine production in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia and trafficking routes to North America and Europe

Abstract Gets Political: GoCaine review by Space-Biff's Dan Thurot

Once in a while, an abstract game steps away from the norm by being overtly political. See, for example, my series on SuffragettoGuerrilla Checkers, and Paco Ŝako. This isn’t to say that every abstract game with a real-world setting qualifies as political. But if the first thing somebody does when unpacking the game is to pour out a pile of white plastic cubes, scrape them into lines with a credit card, and then wonder aloud about the real-world cost of its weight in cocaine — which is exactly what my friend Geoff did as we sat down to give Richard Nguyen-Marshall’s GoCaine a try — continue on Space-Biff site


Odd Topic - Engrossing Game: In-depth review by Darrell Hanning on BGG

As someone who has owned – at one time or another – over a thousand board games, I'm not exactly dead-set against taking chances on, well, outre games. This is, among other reasons, why one ends up with 5 different games on bicycle racing, 3 different games on chariot racing, and so on.


So, a game about drug-smuggling with elements of Go looked even superficially interesting enough for me to pony up for it.

And in a nutshell, that is precisely what this game is – a game of purchasing cocaine in South America, and getting it smuggled into the U.S., while building a smuggling network much like one plays a game of Go. As in Go, there are chances parts of your network will get surrounded and eliminated, and . . .    continue on BoardGameGeek site


Board's Eye View review of GoCaine

It's hard to escape the suspicion that this is one of those games where a designer came up with the punning title before developing the actual game. In this case, Richard Nguyen-Marshall's design is an economic game themed around rival drug cartels but which draws on the core mechanics of the classic Chinese strategy game Go. No matter. It may be an odd combination but it works, and it works remarkably well! continue on Board's Eye View page


She Don't Lie - A GoCaine Review by Charlie Theel on playerelimination.com

Yes, that’s correct, GoCaine. This indie design from Richard Nguyen-Marshall and Kharitago Games combines cocaine trafficking with the ancient Japanese game of Go. Peanut butter and jelly. GoCaine.

Sure, it’s a little nutty. That’s what drew me to it.

The systems employed are simple. Up to six players take turns performing a single action followed by placing one of their discs on the board. That second part is the Go aspect of the game. The idea is you slowly spread across the map, originating somewhere in the South – likely Bolivia or Peru – and stretching towards North America.

In doing so you’re building a trafficking network. Each disc you place represents a cell of dealers, thugs, and hitmen. Your people.

There’s a thoughtfulness to it. You’re seeking a piece in each . . .  continue on Player Elimination site

GoCaine Board Game - Box Contents

300 cells: 50 in each of the six colors (black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green). Each cell serves dual functions: as a security unit for your area control, and as a node in your trafficking network.

450 linking/interlocking cubes: 75 in each of the six colors. Each cube represents 1 metric ton (mt) of cocaine.

51 Task Force tokens.

Cash in the following bill denominations: 40 x $5 million, 50 x $20 million, 50 x $100 million, and 6 bank loan tokens.

2 six-sided dice (2D6)

Detailed rulebook.

Photo of unpacked box of GoCaine showing components/pieces, board, and rule book.

Essential Board Game Info

2-6 Players

120-240 minutes

Ages 16+

Area control, logistics, economic engine building

Top of GoCaine box showing the name and multiple colors of Go stones on a grid