Kalikasan: Cascadia PH Edition it is a tribute to the vibrant spirit of our islands. At Gaming Library, we’ve always believed that board games are the perfect vessels for storytelling, and there is no story more deserving of a global stage than the rich biodiversity of the Philippines. Bringing this project to life alongside China has been a true labor of love, fueled by the desire to see our local wildlife and landscapes celebrated in the games we play every day.
Working alongside AEG and Flatout Games, we set out to do something ambitious: create the first-ever local adaptation of the 2022 Spiel des Jahres winner, Cascadia.
From the Pacific Northwest to the Pearl of the Orient
The original Cascadia is a masterpiece inspired by the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. We realized that the spirit of exploration in that game perfectly mirrored our own lives here. We’re a team that spends some of our weekends island-hopping, diving into azure waters, and trekking through mountain trails. We wanted this edition to feel like a trek through our own backyard. That’s how Kalikasan: Cascadia PH Edition was born.
The soul of this project really took shape when we partnered with Ferd Torres, a digital artist from Davao City. Ferd isn’t just an illustrator; he’s an advocate. His passion for local flora and fauna turned every tile and card into a tribute to our natural heritage.
China and I spent hours reviewing sketches, ensuring every feather of the Philippine Eagle on the cover felt majestic and every detail of the Tamaraw captured that quiet strength of our agricultural heartlands. We even took the chance to swap the rulebook cover for the Palawan Binturong (or bearcat). Why? Because it’s a team favorite and, honestly, who could say no to that face? Such a cutie
The Nature of the Name
Believe it or not, naming the game was one of the hardest parts of the journey. We spent weeks in back-and-forth emails, trying to find a title that felt prestigious yet deeply Filipino. (There was a moment that we cried, HAHAHA but I digress)
In the end, we looked at the folder on our computers where we’d been saving files for months. We had been calling it "Project Kalikasan" (the Filipino word for Nature/Mother Earth) since day one. It clicked. We loved how the "Kas" in Kalikasan mirrored the "Cas" in Cascadia. It felt like fate.
What’s New in the PH Edition?
If you’re a fan of the original Cascadia, you’ll find the award-winning gameplay you love, but with a vibrant local soul. Here’s how the wildlife has "migrated" to our shores:
| Original Wildlife | Kalikasan PH Wildlife |
| Hawk | Philippine Eagle (Our majestic national bird) |
| Elk | Tamaraw (The pride of Mindoro) |
| Bear | Binturong (The charming Palawan bearcat) |
| Fox | Tarsier (The wide-eyed icon of Bohol) |
| Salmon | Bangus (The silver-scaled Milkfish) |
And my personal favorite touch? The nature tokens. We transformed them into the Waling-waling, the "Queen of Philippine Flowers." It adds a pop of elegance to every winning move.
Join the Journey
Whether you’re a veteran tile-layer or a newcomer looking for the perfect family board game, this edition is a celebration of what makes our islands special.
Kalikasan: Cascadia PH Edition will make its grand debut at the All ABOARD Expo 2026 (May 28 - 31), but you don’t have to wait until then to secure your copy.
Pre-order your copy today at gaminglib.com and bring the beauty of the Philippines to your game night!
We’ll be sharing more stories about the specific flora and fauna featured in the game soon. Until then, see you at the table! Mabuhay!
About Gaming Library
Gaming Library aims to be the go-to resource for board games, providing not only titles that can be enjoyed by families, but also to be enjoyed by friends both newcomers and veterans alike. By pulling from different resources from all over the world, we at Gaming Library curate an impressive collection of games for consumers to choose from, suitable for anybody from casual players to hardcore hobbyists. In doing so, we hope to provide the best means to foster activities that strengthen family ties and friendships, while teaching relevant skills and practical critical thinking that can be applied to your everyday life.
