The Island (2010) Board Game

The Island is a card game released in 2010 by designer Édouard Guiton and published by Alderac Entertainment Group and Dust Games. It is a family-friendly game that challenges players to strategically manage their resources and survive on a deserted island.

Game Components of Forbidden Island

58 playing cards

24 island tiles

6 pawns

4 treasure figurines

1 water meter

1 water level marker

Rules of Play.

How To Setup Forbidden Island

To set up the game, players start by randomly distributing the 24 island tiles to form a 4×4 grid, with two additional tiles on each side. Each player selects a role with unique abilities and places their pawn on the corresponding starting tile. The flood deck is shuffled, and the top six cards are drawn to flood the initial six tiles. Each player is given two treasure cards to start. The game is ready to play once these steps are completed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Players must retrieve four treasures (the Earth Stone, the Crystal of Fire, the Statue of the Wind, and the Ocean Chalice) and escape the island via the helicopter pad before the island sinks.

Player Actions: Each turn, a player can take up to three actions: move to an adjacent tile, shore up a flooded tile, give a treasure card to another player, collect a treasure, or perform a role-specific action.

Flood Mechanics: After each player’s turn, cards from the flood deck are drawn, causing tiles to flood or sink if already flooded. “Waters Rise” cards increase the flood meter, leading to more tiles being flooded each turn.

Treasure Collection: Players must collect four matching treasure cards and return to a specific temple space to claim each treasure.

Escape: All players must return to the helicopter pad and play a helicopter lift card to escape the island.

Player Experience

Playing **Forbidden Island** is a tense and exciting experience. Players must work together, utilizing their unique roles and abilities to navigate the sinking island, collect treasures, and escape. The game starts relatively easy but quickly ramps up in difficulty as the flood meter increases and more tiles sink. The cooperative nature of the game encourages strategic thinking, visual discrimination, and teamwork. The unpredictable flood deck and the need to shore up tiles add a layer of urgency and challenge, making each game dynamic and engaging.

Pros

Simple to Learn: The game has a quick setup and simple rules, making it accessible to players of all ages and experience levels.

Adjustable Difficulty: The game offers different difficulty levels, ensuring it remains challenging and fun for repeated plays.

High-Quality Components: The game components, including the tin box and plastic figurines, are of high quality compared to its affordable price.

Replay Value: The game’s variability and cooperative mechanics encourage multiple plays without becoming boring.

Cons

Limited Role Complexity: Some players might find the role-specific abilities somewhat limited.

Luck Factor: The game’s reliance on card draws can introduce a significant luck factor, affecting the outcome of the game.

Personal Thoughts on Forbidden Island

**Forbidden Island** is an excellent game for families, casual gamers, and experienced players looking for a cooperative challenge. Its simplicity and quick gameplay make it an ideal introduction to cooperative board games, while its adjustable difficulty ensures it remains engaging for seasoned gamers. The game’s thematic elements and tense gameplay create an electrifying atmosphere, making it a great addition to any board game collection.

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