Islebound

What kind of captain will you be?

Red Raven (and Ryan Laukat) will always be my favorite. As part of my mission to collect all of his games, Islebound is my second favorite of them all. You act as the ship's captain, sailing an archipelago, exploring various towns, collecting fish and gold, and learning about various cultures along the way. You might even come across some pirates and sea serpents! You must assemble a crew that will earn you the most wealth and impressive capital city.

I don’t know what it is about pirates, but people love them. When choosing a game for game night, it doesn’t take much convincing to get gamers and non-gamers alike to try this one out. Though the setup appears large, the exploration Islebound offers is fairly simple, allowing newer players to enjoy whatever path they take.

Mechanics & Categories: Resource Management, Dice Rolling, Area Control, Worker Placement, Area Movement, Fantasy

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE

Navigate the archipelagos of Arzium, learning of new quests across the islands. Collect resources to build a town of your own. Trade fish for gold. Your journey can be as adventurous as you’d like. There are numerous ways to gain points, but most of all by conquering and befriending towns.

Islebound is a medium-weight game when it comes to decision-making. Several actions are available to you, which may appear daunting as it is hard to plan ahead. Many actions must be chained together to achieve the ultimate goal of conquering or befriending a town. The actions are straightforward: you move, earn resources, and then use those to trade, build buildings, or even score points. If you aren’t afraid of a bit of a challenge, Islebound is perfect for you.

If thinking a few turns ahead is not your thing, I wouldn’t worry. This game still offers other routes for immediate points that still feel rewarding. You can always hunt for gold to hire some crewmates that allow you to travel further. If you enjoy exploration games and especially the theme of sailing on a ship, in a couple of plays, you might start to pick up on ways to play that feel more rewarding.

I’m not here to convince players that Islebound is a gateway game. I think the concepts are simple, but getting the knack of gameplay takes some time. At times, Islebound feels like an engine builder as long as others do not get in your path. Ideally, this game is meant for players who want to immerse themselves in the theme and won’t get caught up in making the wrong choice sometimes. Finding the optimal path is the goal, but expect a couple of plays to learn which actions feel right to you.

FEEL LIKE A PIRATE

A life out at sea is no easy task. You must navigate safely and provide food and bed rest for your crew. You must protect against pirates and creatures of the sea. When all else fails, hunting for treasure is a must to keep your ship afloat and thriving. In Islebound, players have the chance to take on whatever challenges they desire. Every action a player can take feels like a choice a captain must make.

ARZIUM COMES TO LIFE

Undoubtedly, Red Raven games are breathtaking. All following a similar wispy paint style, vivid colors splash together, creating the beautiful world of Arzium. Familiar creatures and faces arise across several game titles, further drawing you into the fantasy. Vibrant blue waters and lush green archipelagos put you at ease while exploring that game board.

Though the resources are just cardboard punch-outs, they are shaped appropriately: shiny, blue fish, skinny logs, rustic books, and your sailing ship. The graphic design is realistic but fitting for a fantasy children’s novel. Even the dice are bright sky blue as you roll the die into the waves to earn attack power from pirates and serpents.

The buildings feel familiar to those built in Above and Below, and you begin to piece together all aspects of this world and how society thrives. Islebound’s sky is an ominous teal, as captains don’t know which way the tides will turn. Through all the vibrant colors, this darkened teal, cloudy sky remains consistent throughout the design, evoking emotional caution as you explore the seas.

Final Comments

A huge bonus this game offers is that the other side of the crewmates can be used in my all-time favorite game: Above and Below. Since many Red Raven games exist in a world called Arzium, they are always planning ways to incorporate familiar faces across the games. Just like a book series, these games draw you into the world and make you want to own all of the games.

I love RPGs, and Islebound scratches that itch, even if in a minor way. Having two “quests” in play where you are destined to travel somewhere gives me a sense of purpose when playing, trying to race other players to the challenge. It also feels immensely rewarding to be working hard at either earning influence or summoning pirates and serpents to then befriend or conquer a town. Islebound feels like a puzzle to determine what pieces you need to gain that last remaining influence or that extra serpent.

I love that no matter which strategy you take, you will feel accomplished as long as you are a step ahead of your opponents. Some victories score more points than others, but nonetheless, your destiny is what you make of it. Will you construct buildings in a town of your own? Will you trade and cooperate with the village folk? Or will you plunder and destroy what lies ahead? The choice is yours!

Similar To: Near and Far, Charterstone, Yamatai, Explorers of the North Sea

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Publisher: Red Raven Games

Game(s) Pictured: Islebound