The Isle of Cats (2019) Board Game

The Isle of Cats is a board game designed by Frank West and published by The City of Games in in 2019. It is a tile-laying and drafting game that combines elements of strategy, puzzle-solving, and adorable cat-themed artwork. Players take on the role of rescue adventurers who must save as many cats as possible from an island that is about to be hit by a catastrophe.

Game Components of The Isle of Cats

Player Boards: Each player has a boat board to fill with cat tiles.

Cat Tiles: 30 cat meeples in five different colors and shapes.

Fish Tokens: Used to lure cats onto the boat.

Rescue Cards: Determine the order and ability to rescue cats.

Discovery Deck: Cards drafted to explore the island.

Lesson Cards: Provide additional scoring methods.

Treasure Tokens: Rare and common treasures to fill space and gain points.

Rat Tokens: Represent negative points if not covered by cats.

Island Board: Tracks the progress of the evil Lord Vesh.

Round Marker: A wooden Vesh boat that moves along the island board.

Cloth Bag: Holds cat tiles for drawing.

How To Setup The Isle of Cats

To set up the game, each player chooses a boat board and places it in front of them. The island board is set up with the round marker at the starting position. Players are dealt a certain number of discovery cards, which they will draft from to explore the island. The cat tiles are placed in the cloth bag, and each player receives a set of rescue cards. The game is ready to start once all components are distributed and the island board is prepared.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Drafting: Players draft cards from the discovery deck to explore the island.

Polyomino Placement: Players place cat tiles on their boat boards efficiently.

Resource Management: Managing fish tokens to lure cats.

Speed Mechanic: Rescue cards determine the order of play based on speed.

Game Objective

Rescue as many cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives.

Fill the boat board efficiently to maximize points.

Cover rat tokens and gather treasures.

Complete lesson cards for additional scoring.

Player Experience

In The Isle of Cats, players take on the role of citizens of Squall’s End on a mission to rescue cats from the island before Lord Vesh arrives. The game involves strategic planning, efficient use of resources, and careful placement of cat tiles. Players must balance the need to rescue cats with the necessity of managing resources and covering negative points. The game offers a family mode for a simpler experience and can be played with 1-4 players, or up to 6 with expansions.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: Combines card drafting and polyomino placement in a unique way.

High-Quality Components: Premium feel to the cards, boards, and tokens.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Variety in Gameplay: Different cat families and lesson cards offer diverse strategies.

Family Mode: An easier version for children or those new to complex games.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to multiple mechanics.

Setup Time: Requires a bit of time to set up all the components.

Component Loss: Risk of losing small components like cat tiles or tokens.

Personal Thoughts on The Isle of Cats

The Isle of Cats is perfect for fans of strategic board games who enjoy a mix of card drafting and spatial reasoning. It is ideal for families looking for a game that can be played in both a simple and complex mode. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking a quick, lightweight game due to its medium weight and setup time. With its engaging mechanics and high-quality components, The Isle of Cats is a great addition to any board game collection.

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