Last modified April 26, 2026 by Jarjar
Overview
Ayar: Children of the Sun is the third game in a series published by Osprey Games, alongside two other games by author Fabio Lopiano, Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road and Sankoré: The Pride of Mansa MusaThis author also created the games Shackleton Base (a very good game, by the way) and Autobahn. He collaborated with Mandela Fernandez-Grandon on the latter (Sankoré).
Ayar: Children of the Sun is a game that retraces the founding myth of the Incas. Players control one of the first clans, traveling with the Ayars (eight children of the sun and moon gods) across the Andes, where they learn and hone skills in farming, pottery, weaving, and reed raft building. Beyond developing their own clan, players must influence the Ayars' progress to ensure the survival of those who reward the skills they have developed. The game features a unique scoring system based on two distinct points, the Sun and the Moon, where only the lower of the two determines the final score, creating a tension where you must balance your devotion between the two deities.
THE ORIGIN OF THE TITLE
According to Inca mythology, the god Inti (the sun) sent four brothers and four sisters, the Ayars, from the Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol) on Lake Titicaca to found a new civilization. These children of the sun traveled across the Andes in search of the ideal place to establish their empire. The four principal brothers were Ayar Manco (who became Manco Capac, the first Inca), Ayar Auca, Ayar Cachi, and Ayar Uchu, along with their respective sisters, whom they married to perpetuate the Inca royal line.
This is a very important concept explored in the game, which is based on the idea that the Inca civilization was founded by beings of divine origin, directly descended from the sun. The game's title, "Ayar: Children of the Sun," refers directly to this mythology.
MADE BY THE PUBLISHER
Osprey Games demonstrates commitments to social responsibility and ethics in its supply chain.https://www.ospreypublishing.com/media/ufnpht03/modern-slavery-statement-2025-final.pdf)
The issue of child labor is a major concern in the manufacturing industry, particularly in East Asia where the majority of games are produced. Responsible game publishers generally apply strict criteria and conduct audits to ensure their suppliers adhere to ethical standards, including:
The prohibition of child labor
Safe working conditions
Fair wages
Respect for workers' rights
This is undoubtedly a contributing factor to the higher prices of their games, since working with certified suppliers and auditing their practices generally costs more than simply buying at the best possible price.
My first impressions
The game has a striking presence on the table despite its somewhat muted colors. The boards are clear, the iconography is decent, and the art direction draws inspiration from Andean symbols. The game's central puzzle is very well executed, and the scoring mechanics are enjoyable to manage.
The game isn't difficult to learn, but it does require a good understanding of the rules. It offers its share of frustrations and pleasures, and its overall mechanics are truly unique. The removal of the Ayars from the tracks as the rounds progress creates interesting pressure on decision-making.
The numerous carpet tiles that need to be stacked are easily caught and keep falling over. In the end, you create several, but it would have been nice to have a system in place to distribute them more effectively.
Each turn, players choose one activity from four options. These same four activities are used at the end of the round to award Moon points, but the order and timing of these selections are crucial for maximizing points earned.
As for Sun points, they are awarded based on certain positions reached during the movement of the Ayars, and on the number of Sun symbols available in one of the four activities. These points are recorded on a dial which is then evaluated at the end of the round. The points accumulated on the dial are cumulative from one round to the next. This is the heart of the game, and you must carefully read the clues and choose the right activities to prioritize—not always easy!
The game features various elements, such as Viracocha tokens, which can be earned from each activity and used to unlock upgrades on the player's board. It's impossible to unlock them all, so you'll need to choose wisely.
It's an expensive game. For a price in this range, one would certainly expect double-layered game boards, at the very least! But then again, it seems Osprey Games has a production method that costs more than other publishers.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 19
We played with three players. The core mechanic is really fun; it feels like playing four mini-games in one (like in Sankoré, actually). The bonus that grants six suns for each personal bonus unlocked seems very powerful, perhaps even too powerful. This needs to be confirmed in future games. Only my son unlocked it, and he completely smashed the sun point score, racking up 24 points by the end of the game. This makes me think that if one player unlocks it, the others absolutely have to do the same to remain competitive, and that bothers me a little, unless I've missed something? Our game lasted 95 minutes. We all enjoyed it, although my partner felt there were a lot of things to keep track of.
NO RULES
You can take as many tiles as you want (carpets and pottery), but only one per pile (it is not possible to take two of a tile with a value of 1, for example).
The author suggests this two-player variant: When the Ayar gather during the night phase, kiss your opponent =)
TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 5 (solo, 2, 3 and 4 players)
Best player configuration: 3
Price paid: CAD 134
Level: experienced player (BGG complexity: 3.13/5)
My best score: 99 (Moon and Sun tied)
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The mechanics of moving and removing the Ayars are well thought out!
>> A good quality game with enough complexity to satisfy players who like to think, without being too overwhelming.
>> A beautiful modern production that blends the Inca mythological theme with deep mechanics, while remaining very fluid.
>> Good interaction.
>> Good storage.
I liked less :
>> Even if there is a very human explanation, the price remains excessive! Especially for what it contains.
>> Something to distribute the carpet tiles could have been considered; the piles often fall when hanging them.
>> Some critics mention a possible lack of replayability. Indeed, there are no new elements in each game except for the scoring order. However, players face several choices, and since timing is important, each game is very different depending on how they play.
>> A bit long with 4 players.
>> The sun points roulette is a bit silly.
This mid-weight game will appeal to fans of nuanced management mechanics and thoughtful scoring. Its immersive theme based on Inca mythology creates an engaging atmosphere, while the gameplay cleverly alternates between immediate tactical choices and longer-term strategic planning.
FUN FACTOR 🙂🙂🙂🙂