Forbidden Jungle (2023) Board Game

Forbidden Jungle is a board game released in 2023, designed by C. B. Canga and published by Gamewright. It falls under the adventure, fantasy, and science fiction categories, offering players a thrilling experience in a mysterious jungle setting.

Game Components of Forbidden Jungle

44 cards

47 miniatures (including aliens, eggs, and hatchlings)

24 tiles

24 web tokens

6 pawns

6 meter clips

1 threat meter and stand

Character cards with unique powers.

How To Setup Forbidden Jungle

To set up the game, players first place tiles face-down in a pattern, with the option to choose one of seven different layouts varying in difficulty. Each player selects a character card with a unique power and corresponding pawn. The aliens, eggs, and hatchlings are placed at the opposite end of the board from the players. The threat meter and other components are prepared according to the rules. The setup is relatively easy, with customers noting it is easy enough for young children to assist with.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics:

Movement: Move orthogonally to an adjacent tile not blocked by spider webs.

Remove: Remove one web, egg, hatchling, or adult alien.

Explore: Flip the tile to reveal its contents, use machines, and gather gear cards.

Operate Machine: Use machines like portals, compellers, destruct switches, and configurators to manage the board and enemies.

Game Objective:

The goal is to explore the jungle, find four illuminated crystals, and position them orthogonally adjacent to a portal devoid of alien critters to escape. Players must balance exploration with managing the threat posed by the aliens and the deteriorating jungle environment.

Player Experience

Playing Forbidden Jungle is a dynamic and challenging experience. The game introduces new spatial awareness aspects, such as manipulating the board with configurators and destruct switches, which adds a fresh twist to the series. Players need to communicate effectively as the optimal moves are not always obvious. The game is prone to randomness, with the threat deck potentially leading to sudden and severe consequences, making it essential to adapt strategies quickly.

Pros

Visual Appeal: Beautifully detailed componentry and artwork.

Replayability: Variable board layouts and unique character powers ensure high replayability.

Thematic Integrity: The game is thematically tight, with a compelling jungle setting and challenging gameplay.

Interactive: Encourages teamwork and strategic discussion among players.

Cons

Complexity: More complex and fiddly compared to other games in the series, which can slow down gameplay.

Randomness: The game is highly vulnerable to randomness, which can lead to unexpected losses.

Piece Management: Managing the numerous pieces and miniatures can be intimidating and time-consuming.

Personal Thoughts on Forbidden Jungle

Forbidden Jungle is a game best suited for those already familiar with cooperative board games, particularly the Forbidden series. While it offers a fun and challenging experience with its new mechanics, it may not be the best introduction for new players due to its complexity and fiddliness. However, for fans of Matt Leacock’s games and those looking for a more intense cooperative challenge, Forbidden Jungle is an excellent addition to any board game collection.

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