Cooper Island (2019) Board Game

Cooper Island is a board game released in 2019 and designed by Andreas “ode.” Odendahl. Players take on the role of explorers and settlers on a remote island, trying to build their own thriving economy and establish dominance over the land.

Game Components of Cooper Island

Player boards

Islet tiles

Resource tokens

Worker tokens

Boats

Statues

Buildings

Royal orders (scoring cards)

Helm Points (Victory Points)

How To Setup Cooper Island

To set up Cooper Island, each player starts with a player board and a set of initial tiles and resources. Players receive starting tiles that vary slightly, and the main board is set up with the eight action areas. Royal orders, which are the scoring cards, are also shuffled and distributed. The game is divided into five rounds, each consisting of three phases: the income phase, the worker phase, and the clean-up phase.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place workers on the main board to take actions.

Resource Management: Players generate resources by placing new tiles on their island and upgrading resource output.

Tile Placement: Players discover new areas of their island by placing islet tiles.

Boat Mechanism: Boats can reactivate island tiles and unlock additional actions.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate Helm Points (Victory Points) through various actions such as building statues, erecting buildings, and fulfilling royal orders.

Player Experience

Cooper Island is often described as a “brain burner” due to its complex mechanics and the need for strategic planning. Players must balance resource generation, island expansion, and action selection carefully, as the game only lasts five rounds. The game rewards efficient play and offers a high level of satisfaction with the decisions made during gameplay. However, the low scores, especially in initial games, can be surprising, as players often spread their efforts across multiple scoring methods rather than focusing on a few.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

Unique Mechanics: The resource generation and tile placement mechanisms are distinct from other worker placement games.

Replay Value: Despite the setup being similar, different strategies lead to varied outcomes.

Satisfaction: Players feel highly satisfied with their decisions at the end of the game.

Cons

Replayability Limitations: The setup, while allowing different strategies, is largely the same each time.

Steep Learning Curve: The game can be overwhelming for new players due to its complexity.

Time-Consuming: Games can take several hours to complete, especially with multiple players.

Personal Thoughts on Cooper Island

Cooper Island is tailored for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy deep, strategic gameplay. It is ideal for players who appreciate complex puzzles and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the game’s mechanics. If you’re looking for a game that challenges your strategic thinking and rewards efficient play, Cooper Island is an excellent choice. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those seeking quick, light-hearted gameplay experiences.

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