Greater Than Games | Spirit Island: Base Game | Cooperative Strategy Board Game | 1 to 4 Players | 90+ Minutes | Ages 14+

Burton Gamble United States

This is my (and my friends) new favorite game. Hands down.

This game is not related or connected to Settlers of Catan in any way, but follow along with me for a minute here - the following "story" will give you a good idea of the highly thematic game-play present in this game. Imagine the world/game of Settlers of Catan. A new island is discovered, and invaders from afar flock to the new lush land in search of new homes and resources. Ready to conquer and colonize the new paradise, they begin by creating a few modest towns, and then the race for territory begins. Eventually one particular group of colonists win the race for land, and are crowned the new de-facto rulers of the not-so-newly-discovered island. But something awakens from the land itself. The colonists actions have blighted the land, displaced and taken advantage of the native tribes of the land, and disturbed and upset the spirits that the natives worship. The ancient god-spirits of the island have been angered and they now exert their powers and influence upon the land. Crops wither, volcanoes erupt, the jungle grows rapidly to take back the land claimed for townships and roads. The rains, rivers, and ocean itself seems intent on destroying bridges and boats, flooding crop land, and sometimes raining destruction from above. Raging storms of thunder and lightning, savage wildlife, and the very earth beneath seem intent to drive the invaders out, or kill them. Wicked nightmares plague the settlers, and the natives themselves revolt. Welcome to Spirit Island. The game is, like I said, highly thematic, and a ton of fun to play - with a huge variety of game setups and play choices - no two games are ever the same. You take on the roles of the Spirits of the island, attempting to drive away the colonists through fear and population reduction. The Dahan (the natives) can help, but are mostly powerless until/unless aided by the players/spirits. A fully cooperative game, all players either win together, or lose together. The core game mechanics of the game are "deck-building", "resource management" , and "area control". Although the area-control is done in an interesting manner that is slightly different from most other area-control games; you're actually trying to reduce the invaders area-control, and you do so by using your cards/powers - which are limited to being 'cast' on areas near your 'influence markers'. All in all a very good modification on some popular traditional core mechanics. I really can't say enough good things about this game. There are several different spirits to choose from, and each have unique abilities, making the game quite varied from play to play, and spirits will even change from player to player based on play style of the person. There are several optional (and highly recommended) adversaries to choose from (basically you get to pick who won the island - choosing from historical kingdoms like France, Brittan, and Prussia) that keep the game challenging as you progress in player/group skill. And finally, the expansion, and a few of the promo items available out there are really awesome as well and add a lot to the game - as well as a new expansion slated to show up in 2019 sometime. tl;dr: This is my (and my friends) new favorite game. Hands down.

Connor Clark Canada

My favourite Co-op game since Pandemic Legacy

A (longish) TL;DR: This game is very good. People who are experienced with board games can pick this game up and play fluidly in just a few turns, but it can initially be overwhelming for casual players. The game is quite difficult, especially at first, but everything is tied together very well thematically and is very much less luck based than most cooperative board games; therefore, the (base) game is easier to play and win the more you play, but there are several ways to increase the difficulty once it feels too easy. Everyone playing feels important and all choices matter. Replay value is very high, and nobody I've played it with has had anything negative to say about it. Pros: + Thematically Consistent + Truly 1-4 players (even single player is fun and challenging) + Various difficulty levels and options for gameplay variation offer high replay value + High-Quality pieces with great art + Very hard to take control of other players - everyone feels important and their choices matter POSSIBLE Cons: - Overwhelming at first (many different pieces and gameplay elements) - Can be difficult to teach because of the above point - Seemingly few 'scenarios' and 'adversaries' (but ultimately enough once you understand how they work) - Generally very challenging for new players even with the most simple set-up Neutral Points: ~ Long play time for casual players (30-40 minutes for single player, 60+ minutes with 2 players, and easily 90-120+ minutes with 3 or 4 players, especially if playing with new players) ~ In-box dividers/piece holders are flimsy and bulky, but box includes many resealable plastic bags for pieces ~ Random elements are a small part of the game, but are very predictable, fit with the theme, and don't feel 'luck-based' ~ NOT kid friendly. Don't be fooled by the colourful art - This game is challenging and complex for many adults, and I wouldn't even want to try playing it with anyone younger than a board game savvy 13 year old (I'm thinking of my younger siblings and cousins around that age as examples: some are definitely able to play and some I wouldn't let touch the box) Things to keep in mind when first playing the game: * If you can, learn the game with 2 players first, with the rule book and online FAQ open - learning with a single player will likely result in a quick and brutal loss that won't teach you enough, and learning with more than 2 players will likely result in a jumbled mess which will take far too long. Playing with several people is much easier when at least one person already knows how to play. * USE THE 'EASY' CHARACTERS - Seriously, their rules and powers are much easier to manage, and you can eliminate the deck building portion of the game as you learn the more integral elements * Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of the game. This game is hard to beat at first. Once you learn some strategy through trial and error, victory is much easier (which is why scenarios, adversaries, and blighted island cards are in the game, all of which increase the difficulty and/or complexity)

A. Scarbrough United States

A fantastic and endlessly replayable board game!

Spirit Island is one of those board games that will never leave the table once you get a consistent group going. It is a co-op game in which players each assume the role of a nature spirit defending an island against an invading force (which can either be nameless or customized to represent various historical empires). Every game follows a similar pattern of feeling hopelessly outmatched at the beginning, slowly growing in power, and finally turning the tide, and that power fantasy feels great every time. You will not win every game of Spirit Island, but you will always have edge-of-your-seat fun. And since the game is co-op, you can share that thrill with your friends. Though many factors help the game's replayability, including randomized board layouts, invasion patterns, and card draws, what I love most about the game is the selection of spirits to play as. The base game comes with 8, and it can be expanded even further with the two expansions. Each spirit has a completely different playstyle, especially when working in tandem with different teammates. As a result, spirit island will feel very different every time you play it. But if that variety still isn't enough customization for you, you can also play against different enemies or even custom scenarios included in the game that modify the rules. The only major downside to spirit island is the complexity of the rules, which makes it quite heavy for anyone unaccustomed to the "crunch" of heavy board games. I would not recommend it as your first game, or for someone looking for quick, light fun. But for anyone who loves strategy, customization, and amazing game design, spirit island is an unparalleled experience.

Pietro Semifero United States

My most-played board game

Spirit Island is a great cooperative strategy game. It has excellent gameplay, a strong theme, lots of variety and replayability, and scalable difficulty. In the reverse of most games, you are the island driving off the settlers. As the awakening spirits of the island, you protect your natives while afflicting the invaders with fire and flood. The spirits vary in their style and complexity, from the simple and defensive Vital Strength of the Earth, to A Rampant Spread of Green that bolsters its ally spirits, to the Bringer of Dreams and Nightmares who seeks to literally scare the invaders back to Europe. Make the game as simple, complex, or difficult as you like in your choice of spirits and opponents. Each adversary has seven levels of difficulty, so you can pick what kind of challenge you want and how much. The gameplay has many simple pieces that are collectively complex. The rules at each point are straightforward, but new players can get lost in the number of steps and options, each happening at multiple points on the island. The game eases you into this by letting you add complexity in layers, so your first game will have maybe half the complexity of a full-on game. Still, this is not a casual game. If you like strategic play and planning ahead, this will be a great experience. The game has a high skill ceiling that rewards planning and cooperation. Gather your friends and save Spirit Island! (Or you can play alone. It works great as a solo game, too.)