Black Skull Island (2018) Board Game

Black Skull Island is a party game designed by Luigi Ferrini and published by Strawberry Studio in in 2018. The game is set in a pirate-themed world where players take on the roles of pirates trying to collect treasure and avoid traps on the mysterious Black Skull Island.

Game Components of Black Skull Island

109 well-constructed Character Cards, each numbered from 0 to 15 and featuring unique abilities.

Treasure Cards and Coin Cards, collectively known as Booty Cards.

Character Cards are coated, eliminating the need for sleeving unless played very frequently.

Cutesy artwork, though deemed adequate but unremarkable.

How To Setup Black Skull Island

To set up the game, shuffle the Treasure Cards and place them in a face-down pile accessible to all players. Select Character Cards based on the player count, ensuring only cards with a printed Player Count equal to or lower than the number of players are used. Each player is dealt two Character Cards, unless playing a 2-player game, in which case each player gets two cards. Players choose one Character Card to play face-down each round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Simultaneous Action Selection: Players choose one Character Card to play face-down each round.

Hand Management: Players manage two Character Cards, using one each round.

Activation Order: Character abilities are resolved in the order of their Activation Numbers, from lowest to highest.

Game Objective: Collect 7 or more Booty Cards (Treasure or Coin Cards) to win the game. The player with the most valuable collection of Booty Cards wins.

Player Experience

**Black Skull Island** is a fast-paced game, lasting around 10-25 minutes, making it suitable for a quick filler or lunch break game. The gameplay involves a mix of luck and strategic use of character abilities, which can include drawing treasure, stealing or deactivating other players’ cards, or swapping booty cards. However, the game’s outcome can feel random and divorced from the players’ actions, leading to a somewhat apathetic response to the game’s conclusion.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Ideal for a filler game or a short break.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players as young as 8 years old.

High Player Count: Supports up to 9 players, making it a good party game.

Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay that can be understood quickly.

Cons

Random Outcome: The game’s result can feel highly dependent on luck rather than strategy.

Limited Engagement: Players may feel their actions do not significantly impact the game’s outcome.

Unremarkable Components: Artwork and overall presentation are adequate but not outstanding.

Personal Thoughts on Black Skull Island

**Black Skull Island** is best suited for those looking for a light, easy-to-play game that can be enjoyed in a short amount of time. It is particularly kid-friendly and can serve as a good introduction to more complex board games. However, for players seeking deeper strategy or more engaging gameplay, there are likely better options available. It could make a good inexpensive gift for tweens or a casual addition to a game night, but it may not stand out in a collection of more robust games.

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