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Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island (2012) Board Game

ByMichail

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island is a cooperative board game designed by Joanna Kijanka and Ignacy Trzewiczek and published by Portal Games in in 2012. The game is based on the classic novel by Daniel Defoe, where players take on the roles of shipwrecked survivors trying to escape the cursed island. With a mix of adventure, exploration, fighting, and territory building, this game offers a challenging and immersive experience for players.

Game Components of Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

  • Game board** featuring a map and building areas
  • Character pawns** (Explorer, Soldier, Cook, Carpenter) and additional helpers (Friday, the Dog)
  • Resource tokens** (food, wood, flint stones, etc.)
  • Event cards** with immediate and future impacts
  • Weather dice**
  • Adventurer cards**
  • Discovery tokens**
  • Building materials** and invention components
  • Morale tokens**
  • Health and wound tokens**

    How To Setup Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

    To set up the game, start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player selects a character and receives the corresponding pawns and starting items. The event deck is shuffled, and each player draws a starting item card. The island tiles are placed face down, and the first tile is drawn to start the game. Players then determine their starting resources and begin the first round with the event phase.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Worker Placement: Players assign their character pawns to perform actions like explore, gather, build, and fight.
  • Action Phase: Each player can take up to two actions per turn, using one or two pawns for each action. Using two pawns ensures automatic success, while using one pawn requires a dice roll.
  • Event Phase: Players draw event cards, which can have immediate and future effects, such as resource loss, injuries, or new challenges.
  • Morale Phase: Players manage morale, which can affect their ability to perform actions.
  • Production Phase: Players gain resources based on their actions.
  • Weather and Night Phase: Players must manage weather effects and ensure they have enough food and shelter.
  • Game Objective: Survive on the island, complete scenario-specific goals, and manage risks and resources effectively.

    Player Experience

    Playing **Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island** is a deeply thematic and challenging experience. Players start with minimal resources and gradually build up their capabilities through exploration, resource gathering, and building shelters and inventions. The game is filled with tough decisions and constant challenges from the island, including wild beasts, bad weather, and injuries. Despite the luck element from dice rolls and card draws, the game offers a satisfying sense of growth and control as players progress.

    Pros

  • Incredibly Thematic: The game immerses players in a survival scenario with a strong narrative feel.
  • Loads of Replay Value: With multiple scenarios and random elements, each game is unique.
  • Great Production Values: High-quality components and artwork enhance the gaming experience.
  • Excellent Game Flow: The game’s phases create a smooth and engaging gameplay experience.

    Cons

  • Luck Element: Bad dice rolls or card draws can significantly impact gameplay.
  • Complex Rules: The game has a steep learning curve, especially for new players.
  • Long Playtime: Games can last between 60 to 120 minutes.

    Personal Thoughts on Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

    **Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island** is ideal for players who enjoy cooperative games with deep gameplay mechanics and a strong thematic focus. It is suitable for 1-4 players and is particularly appealing to those who appreciate survival and adventure themes. However, due to its complexity and luck element, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those who prefer more straightforward rule sets. For fans of immersive and challenging board games, **Robinson Crusoe** offers a rich and rewarding experience.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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