Islands in the Mist (2019) Board Game

Islands in the Mist is a board game released in 2019 by Schmidt Spiele. Designed by Volker Schächtele and illustrated by Michael Menzel, this game falls under the categories of Aviation/Flight, Dice, Exploration, and Territory Building. With a recommended age of 10 and up, it can be played by 2-4 players and has a runtime of 45-60 minutes.

Game Components of Islands in the Mist

4 Island Boards

7 cloud boards

4 Energy Track Boards

6 starting tiles

96 landscape tiles

15 Wild Scenery Tiles

7 city tiles

15 Monument tiles

4 energy markers

4 balloon pieces

4 arrow pieces

1 bonus die

1 Direction Die

1 score pad

1 cloth bag

1 copy of instruction manual (English)

Extended components: 1 Port Board for Modules 2 & 3, 20 expansion tiles for module 3, 8 Magnifying Glass Tiles for Module 3.

How To Setup Islands in the Mist

To set up the game, players start by placing the island boards in the center of the table. Each player chooses a balloon piece and places it on the starting tile. The cloud boards are arranged around the island boards, and the energy markers, bonus die, and direction die are placed within reach. Players receive their starting tiles and energy markers. The landscape tiles, city tiles, and monument tiles are shuffled and placed face down on the cloud boards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Dice Rolling: Players roll dice to determine the wind direction and receive bonuses.

Balloon Movement: Players move their balloons based on the wind direction and the number on their current tile.

Energy Management: Players can spend energy to speed up, slow down, or move against the wind.

Tile Placement: Players draw and place tiles to build cities, erect monuments, and connect terrains.

Module Integration: Optional modules include a dock for trading tiles and personal buildings with special powers.

Game Objective

The objective is to connect all six land types on the edge of the island to the central city. The player who achieves this first wins. Points are scored for connecting land types, building cities, erecting monuments, and covering volcanoes. The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Player Experience

In Islands in the Mist, players take on the role of hot air balloon pilots exploring an island shrouded in mist. The game combines strategic tile placement with the unpredictability of wind direction, requiring players to balance going with the flow and using their limited energy resources to control their flight. The thematic movement and tiles that reveal the island’s scenery make for an engaging and visually appealing experience. However, the scoring mechanism can feel somewhat simplistic, with most points coming from placing tiles of the same type near the edge of the map.

Pros

Thematic Movement: The hot air balloon movement feels intuitive and thematic.

Strategic Depth: Players must manage their energy and make tactical decisions about when to fight the wind.

Visual Appeal: The game board fills out beautifully as players place tiles, revealing the island’s landscape.

Modular Expansion: The game includes modules that add new mechanics and strategies.

Cons

Simplistic Scoring: The scoring mechanism can feel bare bones, with most points coming from simple tile placement.

Limited Complexity: The game does not reach the same level of complexity as some other tile-laying games.

Dependence on Luck: The wind direction and dice rolls can introduce significant luck, affecting player control.

Personal Thoughts on Islands in the Mist

Islands in the Mist is a great game for those who enjoy light to medium-weight tile-laying and exploration games. It is particularly suitable for families and casual gamers due to its accessible rules and thematic gameplay. However, experienced gamers might find the base game a bit too simple, though the optional modules can add some complexity and variety to the gameplay. Overall, it is an enjoyable and visually pleasing game that captures the essence of exploration and strategic resource management.

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