Duelosaur Island (2018) Board Game

Duelosaur Island is a two-player spin-off of the popular board game Dinosaur Island. Designed by Ian Moss and published by Asmodee in 2018, this game focuses on creating the best dinosaur park in a head-to-head competition with your opponent. With a mix of dice rolling, hand management, and set collection, Duelosaur Island offers a fast-paced and strategic gaming experience.

Game Components of Duelosaur Island

Main and draft boards

Company boards

Player cubes in two colors (purple and gold)

Cards with dual purposes (DNA sequences and attractions)

Dice

Cardboard coins

Park cards

Specialist cards

PR tokens

How To Setup Duelosaur Island

To set up Duelosaur Island, players begin by setting up the main and draft boards according to the rulebook. Each player selects a company board and player cubes in their chosen color. They receive a hand of three starter cards, which are used to select a starting dinosaur, a starting attraction, and one card to remain in hand. The first player is randomly selected, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage cards that serve multiple purposes.

Drafting: Players draft cards and dice to build their park.

Set Collection: Collecting sets of attractions and dinosaurs.

Game Objective: The goal is to attract the highest number of visitors to your dinosaur park by building attractions, creating dinosaurs, and managing resources like DNA and coins.

Player Experience

Duelosaur Island offers an engaging and strategic gameplay experience. Players must balance the creation of dinosaurs and attractions, as both are crucial for attracting visitors. The game starts slowly, as players need several rounds to collect enough resources to implement their strategies. The dual-layered player boards, chunky dice, and sturdy cards enhance the gameplay experience. However, the game can be a table hog and requires careful attention to distinguish between similar-looking DNA types.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game requires constant engagement and strategizing.

Balanced for 2 Players: Well-adapted for two-player gameplay.

High Production Quality: Clear artwork, unique symbolism, and sturdy components.

Engaging Mechanics: Hand management, drafting, and set collection keep the game exciting.

Cons

Slow Start: Initial rounds are slow due to limited resources.

Table Space: The game requires a large playing area.

Component Confusion: Similar-looking DNA types can be confusing.

Personal Thoughts on Duelosaur Island

Duelosaur Island is ideal for fans of strategic games and those who enjoy the theme of building a dinosaur park. It is a solid adaptation of the original Dinosaur Island, tailored specifically for two players. While it may not offer the same immersive experience as its predecessor, it still provides a challenging and engaging gameplay experience. If you prefer games with deep strategy and are willing to invest time in setting up and learning the mechanics, Duelosaur Island is a great choice.

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