Harvest Island (2017) Board Game

Harvest Island is a board game released in 2017 by Big Fun Games. Designed by Chih-Fan Chen and illustrated by Cinyee Chiu, the game is suitable for 2 to 4 players, with a recommended age of 8 and above. Harvest Island falls under the categories of Animals and Card Game, featuring mechanisms such as Hand Management and Set Collection.

Game Components of Harvest Island

Game board

Four seasonal decks of cards (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)

Fruit cards

Weather cards (Sun and Rain)

Landscape cards (Plains, Hills, Mountains)

Seed cards

Fertilizer cards

Harvester medals

Player markers

How To Setup Harvest Island

To set up the game, create a deck for each of the four seasons by combining fruit cards and weather cards, then place these decks above their respective season columns on the game board. Remove some cards at random from each deck during setup. Each player receives a hand of four fruit cards from the Spring deck, ensuring all weather cards are discarded and reshuffled into the Spring deck. Players are also given three landscape cards to place on the table. The game starts in the Spring season, with two cards drawn and placed in the supply area and three cards in the storage area.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Seasonal Card Decks: Each season has its own deck of cards.

Weather Cards: Sun and Rain cards cancel each other out; three of the same type trigger a catastrophe.

Cultivating and Harvesting: Players can either cultivate (plant seeds) or harvest fruits on their turn.

Landscape Management: Players manage three fields (Plains, Hills, Mountains) for planting.

Fertilizer and Seeds: Fertilizer cards are worth 2 points and aid in getting Harvester medals; seed cards are necessary for planting.

Harvesting: Harvested fruits are scored, and Harvester medals are awarded for meeting specific thresholds.

Game Objective: Be the most successful crop cultivator by scoring the most points through harvested fruits, Harvester medals, and remaining cards.

Player Experience

In **Harvest Island**, players engage in a simple yet challenging game of hand management. The game requires strategic planning to balance quick harvesting for immediate points versus aiming for larger collections of fruits to earn higher scores and Harvester medals. The varying weather conditions and limited field space add complexity, forcing players to make crucial decisions about which cards to play and when.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Straightforward mechanics make it accessible to a wide range of players.

Strategic Depth: Offers multiple strategies for scoring, keeping the game engaging.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Short Playtime: Games typically last about 30 minutes.

Cons

Weather Risks: Catastrophes can significantly impact gameplay, possibly leading to frustration.

Limited Fields: Managing only three fields can be restrictive.

Luck of the Draw: Card draws can be unpredictable, affecting strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Harvest Island

**Harvest Island** is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a light yet engaging experience. It’s perfect for those who enjoy farming or gardening themes and are willing to navigate the unpredictability of weather conditions. For more experienced gamers, it might serve as a fun, quick filler game between more complex sessions. Overall, it’s a charming game that balances simplicity with strategic depth.

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