Gamewright - Forbidden Island - Cooperative Strategy Survival Board Game, 2-4 Players

Plenty of people have done an admirable job of explaining the games in their reviews, so this is instead an attempt at a comparison between a number of games, the pros and cons of each and which may suit different people best. The games in question are: Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, Castle Panic, Smallworld, and Forbidden Island. We have had Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne (with a number of expansion packs) for quite a few years now, and only recently added the other games above. We usually either play just as two adults, or with our two older children (age 9 and 8), and so our conclusions are based on how these games work in those settings. So here's what we've found: Settlers of Catan We got this around the same time as Carcassonne and initially just didn't latch onto it. Partly it's that it's supposed to be 3 players or more, and we often play as just two of us. Once we found online some instructions for playing as 2 players it came out more often, and as time's gone by it's become fairly 50-50 whether we play Settlers or Carcassonne on a quiet night in. The choice will usually depend on how much we want to think. With Settlers, you're always planning and calculating; with Carcassonne, you're taking it a card at a time. Who should get it: Settlers is well-known as one of the great modern games. I'm not as sold on it as some people, and it takes quite a while to learn and feel comfortable with, but once you get the hang of it, it is an entertaining and enjoyable addition to a games collection. There are several 2-player rule variations out there if you need them and they work well (we found one that worked for us and we've stuck to it). But this isn't a game for kids; I would suspect not until they're 16 or so. Amongst other things, I think they'll find it too dull. Carcassonne This has been a favorite for years now, and everyone we've played it with has gone off to get it themselves. We usually play without farms because it then becomes less directly competitive and more sociable. Kids can play it, adults can play it, it's relaxed, it's fun and it's simple to learn. Here's one nice thing about it: you don't have to be constantly thinking and planning ahead. You don't know what card you're going to draw next time, so you just play one card at a time. You're encouraged to discuss where to put a card, and since you don't know what piece you're getting next, your comments to another player are usually pretty unbiased. Who should get it: In my experience, pretty much anyone, except those who want ultra-competitive games. The first few expansion packs are also well worth getting, but don't bother with anything from Mayor onward. Castle Panic The kids love this one, again it's simple to learn and it has the added bonus of allowing them to get out their aggressive instincts and go postal on monsters! They don't like the `master slayer' option, but prefer just straight cooperative play. After the first few plays, I've found the basic game is too easy, and so we're experimenting with making it more challenging, such as starting with no walls, or drawing 3 monster cards at a time instead of 2. I think Castle Panic will become a game that we get out pretty regularly to play. Who should get it: People with kids, who want to play cooperative games. Could be fun as a party game too! Smallworld While the kids have enjoyed playing this, I think their interest is starting to wane already. I suspect it will work better as a game with a group of adults, or when the kids are older. It has a lot going for it, especially the creative cards and board, but as others have noted - what's with the box for the tokens? Very poorly designed and adds unnecessary annoyance. Most of the time when playing we've found it's not too directly competitive, it's easier to attack lost tribes or declining races, so generally it doesn't get too personal! Who should get it: I think this would make a fun addition to a games collection, but I don't think it would be a go-to game, especially with kids. The rules are more complicated to learn and explain than the other games, and this makes it hard to just sit down with new players and get on with a game. Having said that, we've enjoyed playing it , and I think it'll get pulled out every now and then over the years. Forbidden Island Although the kids would prefer Castle Panic, when we've played Forbidden Island (at my insistence!) they've thoroughly enjoyed it. As the island starts to collapse in a heap toward the end of the game, the tension levels rise and people are on the edge of their seats! The game always ends with voices rising in pitch and tension as cards get turned over - it's fun! It's a pure cooperative game, and that works well for us as a family - no one feels bad, we're all in it together. We're still using the `Normal' level of play, maybe we'll notch up a level soon! Who should get it: If you like cooperative games, I think this is excellent to have. I love how easy it is to set different difficulty levels, and it's definitely the game that's had the most excited tension - Castle Panic has this at times, but not sustained (at least as the basic game). It doesn't have the whole monster thing going for it that Castle Panic does, and I think that's why the kids haven't latched onto it so quickly (kill trolls or wander round an island getting treasure - which is your average kid going to choose?) but I suspect that long-term it'll have more staying power.

Forbidden Island sounds silly. Heck, it kind of looks silly. But what it lacks in instant appeal, it makes up for in gameplay. The set itself is in a nice metal container. The island tiles are heavy cardboard and the artifacts are nice quality rubber or plastic. The cards are typical, decent quality. The game has a variety of difficulty levels and is suitable for a wide range of ages and skill levels. Since the game is cooperative, younger or newer players can get assistance from other players. The object of the game is to collect all of the artifacts, four total, and escape the island before it sinks. There are up to six players, but even as a two player game it is quite fun. You can limit the amount of interaction if you like, or you can invite everyone to voice opinions as to your next action. You set up the island tiles randomly in a star like grid. Each time playing is unique, which is part of the fun. You then take turns around the board. Each player draws a card to determine what player they are. Each player has a unique ability such as the ability to move to any space on the board, or shore up two island tiles for only one move and so on. You can pick outright, but I find choosing randomly to be more fun. Each player takes three actions: move, shore up, trade, or collect artifact. Then the player draws two treasure cards, keeping up to five in their hand and discarding extra. If you draw a water rise card - uh oh! - the water level goes up and the game gets more challenging. The next turn is to draw flood cards equal to the current water level. You then flip the tiles indicated. If a tile is flipped already, then it's lost forever! So players want to make sure and shore up certain important tiles when they get flooded (flipped over). The game is over when all of the players collect the artifacts (combined for all four, not everyone will have an artifact), return to the helipad (Fool's Landing) and use an airlift card. Other ways the game ends is if a player is stuck on a tile when it is removed and there are no other adjacent tiles to swim to; or if Fool's Landing is removed; or if both island tiles containing an artifact which has yet to be collected is removed. On lower difficulty settings, it's quite easy. It gets more challenging as you start the water level higher. You can also remove a couple of special treasure cards such as the helicopter and sandbags (make sure to leave at least one helicopter or you can't escape!) It's a quick game lasting around 30 minutes on average. The cooperative style is very fun. I find it to be a good in between game - that is a game between longer games such as Dominion, Carcassonne, or Race for the Galaxy. It's great for friends, and it's easy to learn. What's great also is that as long as one person knows how to play, you can instantly dive in with newbies and assist them in the first couple of plays through. Highly recommended!

We're on a bit of a cooperative board game kick lately, and Forbidden Island did NOT disappoint! After loving Pandemic, we were looking for something similar, and this one was a blast. The whole "island sinking" thing really amps up the tension – you're constantly scrambling to keep tiles from flooding while trying to find the treasures. It's a really fun and unique mechanic. We played with four players, and it was the perfect amount of challenge. Each player has a different role with special abilities, so you really have to communicate and work together to succeed. There were definitely some tense moments where we thought we were going to get swamped, but we managed to pull through in the end! It was a really satisfying feeling to escape with all the treasures. The game is easy to learn, but there's still plenty of strategy involved. It's perfect for a family game night or a get-together with friends. We loved that it's cooperative, so everyone's working towards a common goal. If you're looking for a fun and engaging game that will have you on the edge of your seat, Forbidden Island is a great choice. Highly recommend it! Five stars!

Tout d'abord ce jeu est très joli et d'excellente facture. Le jeu est fourni dans une boite métallique, contenant des dalles épaisses pour jouer, les cartes et la réglette du niveau d'eau en carton sont aussi d'excellente qualité et il y a également des figurines pour les trésors. Les pions sont en bois. Un manuel d'instruction illustré est livré avec et il est très clair. Le jeu lui-même est de type coopératif: on joue ensemble contre le jeu pour essayer de gagner. Chaque joueur a des pouvoirs spéciaux. Si un seul des joueurs tombe à l'eau, c'est perdu pour toute l'équipe. Je ne vais pas spoiler comment le jeu fonctionne, mais il est pas facile du tout, même au niveau le plus facile, on peut perdre lors des premières parties! Et il y a plusieurs niveaux de difficultés, je n'ai pas encore été plus haut mais j'imagine à quel point les parties doivent être endiablées! C'est l'un des rares vrais jeux coopératifs avec du challenge, tous les autres jeux coopératifs que j'ai trouvé sont soit seulement semi-coopératifs, soit ennuyeux. Là il y a une vraie profondeur. Je recommande vivement ce jeu pour ceux qui souhaitent essayer ou qui aiment les jeux coopératifs, il est vraiment extrêmement bien réalisé. Et j'imagine qu'il créera d'excellent souvenirs chez les enfants avec ses belles figurines et dalles d'environnement qui nourrissent l'imagination.

This was played by a group of three 30+ y-os and this engaged us for hours. We played all levels of difficulty and found the most difficult one to be the most engaging. Rules are fairly straightforward with instructions also on character cards. After one or two rounds, you remember all the rules. Graphics are also beautiful, and we loved that this was a collaborative game (vs a competitive one) and we had lots of fun discussing our strategy and working together. In all, I’d highly recommend getting this game.

Great game! Excellent game mechanics will keep it fresh for a while. Arrived earlier than expected, pieces and cards are good quality. My wife and I enjoy it thoroughly. Tension build up as the island starts to sink and we still have to get treasures to escape. Great to cooperate.... Our first cooperative game, didn't think it would be fun. The game layout and play is excellent..... Loads of videos online showing and explaining the game. One of my top 4 games that i believe one should own. Others I'm getting... Lost cities card game. Settlers of Catan. Istanbul. Already ordered lost cities on Amazon, so will compare when i get it. But forbidden island was second on my list, got it first and very happy with it. Tin box did have a very minor dent though, nothing else was wrong with it. The dent was just popped back in place. The box itself is beautiful and complements the pieces and cards.

Forbidden Island ist ein spannendes kooperatives Brettspiel für 2 bis 4 Spieler ab 10 Jahren. Als mutige Abenteurer begeben sich die Spieler auf eine geheimnisvolle Insel, die langsam im Meer versinkt, um vier sagenumwobene Schätze zu bergen und rechtzeitig mit dem Helikopter zu entkommen. Das Spiel bietet eine gelungene Mischung aus Strategie, Teamwork und einem sich stetig steigernden Spannungsbogen. Spielmaterial und Gestaltung: Das Spiel besticht durch sein hochwertiges Material. Die Insel besteht aus 24 Geländeplättchen, die jedes Spiel einzigartig machen. Die detaillierten Illustrationen und die robust gefertigten Schatzfiguren sorgen für eine stimmungsvolle Atmosphäre. Die Spielkarten sind gut verarbeitet und fügen sich optisch harmonisch in das Gesamtbild ein. Spielmechanismus und Ablauf: Jeder Spieler übernimmt eine einzigartige Rolle mit besonderen Fähigkeiten, die taktisch klug eingesetzt werden müssen. Während des Spiels ziehen die Spieler Karten, bewegen sich über die Insel und versuchen, Schätze aus bestimmten Regionen zu bergen. Dabei steigt der Wasserspiegel stetig an und überflutete Inselteile können komplett im Meer versinken, wodurch das Spielfeld immer weiter schrumpft. Das sorgt für ständige Spannung und erfordert kluge Planung und enge Zusammenarbeit in der Gruppe. Schwierigkeitsgrad und Wiederspielwert: Das Spiel bietet verschiedene Schwierigkeitsgrade, die individuell angepasst werden können. Dadurch eignet es sich sowohl für Gelegenheitsspieler als auch für erfahrene Brettspielfans. Durch die zufällige Anordnung der Inselplättchen und die unterschiedlichen Rollen der Spielfiguren bleibt jede Partie abwechslungsreich und spannend. Fazit: Forbidden Island ist ein großartiges kooperatives Brettspiel, das durch sein ansprechendes Design, seine strategische Tiefe und seinen stets spannenden Spielverlauf überzeugt. Es fordert Teamarbeit und vorausschauendes Denken, ohne dabei zu komplex oder frustrierend zu sein. Wer ein spannendes Abenteuer sucht, das sich immer wieder anders spielen lässt, wird hier fündig!

If you like Pandemic........