A game to celebrate the ‘original ingredients’ of this traditional dish from Valencia, Spain; as well as the many variations it has had during its spread across the country and the world.

The mechanics and narrative are inseparably woven together, creating a flavorful and immersive gameplay experience. Each ingredient card carries not only gameplay implications but also a short backstory reflecting regional customs or culinary myths. As players compete to build the most authentic (or daringly innovative) paella, they’re not just collecting cards; they’re engaging in a playful debate about identity, heritage, and creative expression.

The game evolved through a deliberately iterative design process. Multiple rounds of player feedback helped shape the balance between ‘tradition’ fidelity and fun mechanics.

This game was inspired by a prototype developed earlier that week Pizza’sabout time and it inspired the variant Astro Gastro.