Blue Lagoon (2018) Board Game

Blue Lagoon is a strategic board game designed by renowned game designer Reiner Knizia and published by Blue Orange in in 2018. The game has received positive reviews for its engaging gameplay and beautiful artwork by Tomasz Larek. Blue Lagoon falls under the category of abstract strategy games, where players compete to colonize a newly discovered archipelago.

Game Components of Blue Lagoon

Game board featuring a cluster of islands

Settler tokens

Village tokens

Resource tokens

Score Pad

Bag for mixing resources

How To Setup Blue Lagoon

Setup involves laying out the board, mixing the resources in the included bag, and placing one resource on each space marked with a circle of stones. Each player receives Village and Settler tokens in their chosen color. The number of Settlers used varies by player count: 30 for 2 players, 25 for 3 players, and 20 for 4 players. Players also receive a sheet from the Score Pad.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Exploration Phase: Players place Settlers and Villages to explore and settle islands.

Settlement Phase: Similar to the Exploration Phase, with a focus on consolidating control and resources.

Island Chain: Points for the longest chain of connected Settlers and Villages.

Island Majorities: Points for having the most pieces on an island.

Resources: Points for collecting sets of the same resource type.

Objective: The player with the most points, accumulated from exploring islands, forming island chains, controlling island majorities, and collecting resources, wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Blue Lagoon can be a dynamic and strategic experience. With two players, the game has a more focused, almost Go-like feel, emphasizing resource collection and island control. At three and four players, the game becomes more hectic, with increased competition for resources and territory. The game’s colorful and well-designed board adds to its appeal, making it visually pleasing and engaging.

Pros

Blend of Mechanics: Combines set collection and area control effectively.

Visual Appeal: The board and tokens are bright, colorful, and well-designed.

Strategic Depth: Offers different strategies depending on player count.

Resource Management: Encourages players to manage resources efficiently.

Expandable: The game seems to have potential for expansions.

Cons

Complexity for New Players: The dual-phase gameplay and multiple scoring mechanisms can be overwhelming.

Player Interaction: At higher player counts, the game can become chaotic and less focused.

Setup Time: While not excessive, setup does require some preparation.

Personal Thoughts on Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of strategic planning and resource management. It’s a great choice for those looking for a game that combines simplicity in rules with depth in gameplay. The game is particularly suited for fans of area control and set collection mechanics, and its visual appeal makes it a standout on any game shelf. However, new players might need some time to adjust to the game’s unique mechanics and scoring system.

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