Forbidden Island (2010) – Board Game Guys

Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is a cooperative board game developed by Matt Leacock and published by Gamewright Games in 2010. The game is situated on a mysterious island where players take on the roles of different adventurers, moving around a board collecting treasures and trying to escape before the island sinks. Forbidden Island was the secluded retreat of an ancient mystical empire known as the Archeans. Legend has it that the Archeans possessed the ability to control the Earth’s elements
– fire, wind, water, and earth
– through four sacred treasures: The Crystal of Fire, The Statue of the Wind, The Ocean’s Chalice, and The Earth Stone.

Why is Forbidden Island Popular?

Forbidden Island is a visually stunning cooperative board game that relies on cooperation rather than competition. It is a game that is fun for all ages and experience levels ranging from hard-core gamers to casual gamers to novices. The game has won several awards, including the Golden Geek Best Children’s Board Game 2010, Mensa Select 2010, and UK Game Expo Best Family/Children’s Game 2011.

Game Components of Forbidden Island

28 Island Tiles

4 Treasure Tokens

4 Adventurer Tokens

24 Treasure Cards

28 Flood Cards

1 Waters Rise Tracker

1 Rulebook

Helicopter Lift Treasure Card

How To Setup Forbidden Island

To set up Forbidden Island, start by randomly arranging the 28 Island Tiles to form the island. Each player chooses an adventurer token and places it on the corresponding starting tile. Shuffle the Treasure Deck and the Flood Deck, then deal a set number of Treasure Cards to each player based on the number of players. Determine the starting difficulty level, which affects how many Flood Cards are drawn at the beginning of the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Collect all four treasures and escape the island via Fool’s Landing before it sinks.

Player Actions:
– Move to an adjacent tile.
– Shore up a flooded tile.
– Give or take a Treasure Card from another player on the same tile.

Treasure Collection: Claim a treasure by being on the corresponding tile with four of the matching Treasure Cards.

Flood Mechanics: Draw Flood Cards, which flood or sink island tiles. If a tile is flooded twice, it sinks and is removed from the game.

Waters Rise: When Waters Rise cards are drawn, previously flooded cards are reshuffled back into the Flood Deck, increasing the likelihood of tiles sinking.

Special Abilities: Each adventurer has unique skills, such as the Pilot’s ability to move anywhere on the island or the Engineer’s ability to shore up two tiles with one action.

Player Experience

Forbidden Island offers a dynamic and escalating experience. The game starts off relatively easy, but as the waters rise and tiles begin to sink, the pressure builds, and players must make urgent decisions to save the island. The game requires collaboration and strategic planning, with players needing to balance their actions between collecting treasures, shoring up tiles, and navigating the sinking island. The special abilities of each adventurer add a layer of complexity and strategy, encouraging teamwork and coordination.

Pros

Simple to Learn: The game has straightforward rules and is easy to understand, making it accessible to players of various ages and skill levels.

Adjustable Difficulty: Players can adjust the difficulty level to suit their preferences, ensuring the game remains challenging but fun.

High-Quality Components: The game includes well-made components, such as the island tiles and treasure tokens, all packed into a compact tin box.

Quick Gameplay: Games typically last about 30 minutes, providing a quick and engaging experience.

Cons

Imbalanced Roles: Some adventurers’ abilities are more powerful than others, which can create imbalance in the game.

Hand Limit Issues: The hand limit of five cards can lead to frustrating situations, especially in two-player games, where managing multiple artifact cards becomes challenging.

Alpha Player Dominance: Experienced players can sometimes dominate the decision-making process, which can be frustrating for other players.

Personal Thoughts on Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is ideal for families and groups looking for a cooperative game that combines strategy and teamwork. It’s suitable for children as young as 8, with adult guidance, and is an excellent introduction to more complex cooperative games like Pandemic. The game’s escalating tension and need for urgent decisions make it compelling and engaging, ensuring that players will want to play multiple rounds to master the challenges it presents.

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