King of Monster Island (2022) Board Game

King of Monster Island is a board game released in 2022 by IELLO and designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering. The game is set on a fictional island where giant monsters battle for dominance, inspired by classic kaiju movies like Godzilla.

Game Components of King of Monster Island

Main board featuring a central volcano that acts as a dice tower

3 Boss standees with double-sided player cards and health/star counters

Monster dice (black) and Boss dice (red)

Monster figures and player boards

Power cards and event cards

Ally sheets with unique abilities

Support tiles and energy cubes

Minion tokens, Crystal and Pylon tokens, and Flameling tokens

Health and fame counters

How To Setup King of Monster Island

To set up the game, place the main board in the center of the table and assemble the volcano, placing it in the center of the board. Choose a Boss to fight against and set up the Boss figure and its corresponding card. Distribute the necessary dice, resources, and tokens according to the Boss’s specifications. Each player selects a Monster figure and places it on the board in a different zone from the Boss. Shuffle the power and event cards, create a face-down deck, and draw three cards to form the market. Finally, each player receives a random ally sheet and starts with initial health and fame points.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling Mechanic: Players roll six monster dice with up to three re-rolls to determine actions such as healing, gaining energy, moving, damaging minions or the Boss, and increasing fame.

Boss Phase: The Boss’s actions are controlled by the game, using the results of dice rolled into the volcano to move, activate minions, and attack nearby monsters.

Objective: Players must cooperate to defeat the Boss before it constructs an interdimensional portal or defeats any of the players’ monsters.

Support and Ally System: Players can activate support boats for extra energy or dice faces and use ally sheets to gain special powers as they increase in fame.

Energy and Card Management: Players can spend energy cubes to buy power cards and use them for various benefits.

Player Experience

Playing **King of Monster Island** feels similar to **King of Tokyo** but with a cooperative twist, eliminating player elimination and fostering teamwork. The game requires strategic coordination, as players need to work together to defeat the Boss and its minions. The addition of support boats and ally sheets adds depth and variability to the gameplay. However, there may be moments where players cannot directly engage the Boss, adding a layer of strategy and frustration to the game.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and eliminates the frustration of player elimination.

Variety and Replayability: Multiple Bosses, ally sheets, and power cards ensure each game is unique.

Support and Ally System: Enhances gameplay with special abilities and support options.

Engaging Mechanics: The dice rolling and re-rolling mechanic keeps the game engaging and dynamic.

Cons

Complexity: More complicated than **King of Tokyo**, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Cost of Cards: Power cards can be expensive to acquire, limiting their use.

Frustration of Chasing the Boss: There may be turns where players cannot engage the Boss directly, which can be frustrating.

Personal Thoughts on King of Monster Island

**King of Monster Island** is perfect for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy the **King of Tokyo** series but are looking for a fresh, teamwork-oriented experience. It is suitable for players aged 10 and above and supports 1-5 players, making it a great addition to family game nights or group gaming sessions. The game’s depth and variability ensure it remains exciting and challenging even after multiple plays. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer simpler, more straightforward gameplay mechanics.

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