Lagoonies (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Lagoonies is a fun and engaging board game designed by Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber, and published by KOSMOS in in 2016. It falls under the category of Action/Dexterity and Children’s Game, making it suitable for players aged 5 and above. The game challenges players to use their pattern recognition skills to match different colored sea creatures in a race against time.

Game Components of Lagoonies

Game Board: The central component featuring an underwater scene.

Large Spinning Disk: Contains fish and sea sprites.

Small Spinning Disk: Specifically for sea sprites.

Ghost Octopus Spinner: Introduces a challenging element.

Starfish Tokens: Each player has a starfish token in their respective color.

Die: Used for determining player movements.

Tray: For storing and organizing the game pieces.

How To Setup Lagoonies

To set up the game, place the turntable with the fish and sea sprites in the center hole of the game board and gently push it down into place. Ensure all components are arranged correctly, with each player’s starfish token positioned at the corner of the board matching their color. The tray is used to store and organize all the different creatures before the game begins.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Movement: Roll a die to determine how many spaces to move the spinning disk.

Pattern Recognition: Players look through distorted windows to identify and locate specific sea creatures.

Placement of Starfish Tokens: Players place their starfish tokens on the windows where they believe a creature is located.

Reveal and Score: After all players have placed their tokens, reveal the contents of the chosen windows. Players score points for correctly identified creatures.

Ghost Octopus Variant: Introduces a challenge where players can lose points if they encounter the ghost octopus.

Game Objective: The first player to collect nine creatures wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing **Lagoonies** offers a unique and engaging experience, especially for children. The game has a “find hidden treasure” feel, with the distorted windows adding a challenging and delightful twist. Players must carefully examine the spinning disk to identify the creatures, which can be tricky due to the distortion effect. The game can be played at different speeds, making it adaptable for both younger and older children.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The distortion effect and spinning disk make the game exciting and challenging.

Adaptable: Suitable for a range of ages, allowing both slow and competitive gameplay.

High-Quality Components: The game pieces, particularly the spinning disk and tray, are praised for their quality.

Educational Value: Enhances pattern recognition and dexterity skills.

Cons

Frustration Factor: The ghost octopus variant can be frustrating for younger players who lose their progress.

Visual Difficulty: The distortion effect can be hard to navigate, especially for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Lagoonies

**Lagoonies** is an excellent choice for families with children, offering a fun and interactive way to develop important skills. The game’s unique mechanics and high-quality components make it a standout in the children’s game category. It is particularly suitable for kids who enjoy puzzles and pattern recognition, and it can be enjoyed by both young and older children due to its adaptable gameplay. However, parents should be aware of the potential frustration the ghost octopus variant can cause and adjust the gameplay accordingly.

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