Galapagos (2013) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Galapagos is a board game designed by Alexander Jung and released in in 2013. The game is set in the Galapagos Islands, known for its unique wildlife and biodiversity. Players take on the role of researchers trying to observe and collect animals in the various habitats of the islands.

Game Components of Galapagos

Game board featuring different colored spaces

6 turtles of various colors, randomly drawn and placed on the board

5 dice per player

Player pawns

Turtle cards for scoring

How To Setup Galapagos

To set up the game, place the game board in the middle of the playing area. Randomly draw and place 6 turtles of different colors on the board’s colored spaces. Each player chooses a pawn and places it at the starting point on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics: Real-time dice rolling, set collection

Objective: Collect sets of differently colored turtles.
– Each player rolls 5 dice simultaneously, aiming to arrange the colors to match the spaces on the board.
– Players can re-roll the dice as many times as needed to get the desired colors.
– The fastest player to arrange their dice correctly goes first.
– Players move their pawns onto colored board spaces in the order of the dice rolls.
– If a player lands on a space with a turtle, they collect it.
– At the end of each round, new turtles are drawn to maintain 6 turtles on the board.
– The game ends when all turtles are collected.
– Players score 8 points for each set of 6 differently colored turtles; otherwise, each turtle is worth 1 point.

Player Experience

**Galapagos** is a light, family-friendly game that is easy to learn and play. Games typically last 20-30 minutes, making it a quick and enjoyable experience. However, experienced gamers may find the game too simplistic and prone to being “gamed” by focusing on specific strategies like quickly rolling for just one or two colors to ensure collecting a turtle each turn.

Pros

Easy to learn and play

Suitable for families and children

Quick gameplay sessions

Encourages fast and strategic thinking

Cons

May be too simple for experienced gamers

Can degenerate into repetitive strategies

Limited depth in gameplay mechanics

Personal Thoughts on Galapagos

**Galapagos** is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a light, fun experience. While it may not offer the complexity and depth that experienced gamers seek, it succeeds in its intent as a solid family game. As noted by the publisher, Amigo is committed to making enjoyable family games, and **Galapagos** fits well into this category.

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