Robinson Crusoe second edition board game review - cover

Year: 2012 | Players: 1-4 | Minutes: 90+ | Ages: xiv+

This Robinson Crusoe review was made subsequently playing the game six times.

What is Robinson Crusoe?

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island is a cooperative adventure game that shipwrecks players on a deserted island. Besides the more common survivor necessities (shelter, food, weapons), players will also learn through their decisions, and discoveries, that this island has many mysteries to throw at them.

Robinson Crusoe was designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek and information technology'southward published by Portal Games.

Robinson Crusoe Gameplay

Robinson Crusoe board game review - trying to save Jenny

There are many steps that go into setting up Robinson Crusoe, just the most important one is choosing one of the six scenarios (seven scenarios in the newest edition). Each scenario plays quite differently and comes with its ain set of unique objectives.

When getting ready to play Robinson Crusoe, players tin can choose to exist the cook, the carpenter, the explorer or the soldier. Each graphic symbol plays a flake differently since they have dissimilar morale/life tracks, special abilities and starting equipment. The team also has its own morale track that can make the game harder if information technology's too low, or assist players use their abilities if it is kept upwardly.

There are 6 phases in each round of the game: Event, Morale, Production, Action, Weather and Night. Iii unlike sets of dice are used for each of the three actions in the game (building, gathering, and exploring). The dice will tell you if an action is successful (success, wound, or gamble) or not.

The Building activity is extremely of import in this game. You have to build camps to avoid taking damage from the elements, yous build up your weapon strength to exist able to handle the animals that you see, and you lot have to build other items to aid you stay alive on the island.

Players brand their own choices while playing Robinson Crusoe, which makes the game unique and hard to master. For example, 1 day y'all might choose to move to a different office of the isle and fight a acquit, while on some other day y'all will focus on getting the squad's morale upwards.

If one role player succumbs to their wounds during the game, and then the whole team has lost. You also lose when you lot are unable to complete your chosen scenario's objectives in time.

That is only an overview of how to play Robinson Crusoe. If you want to read all of the rules, check out the official Robinson Crusoe rulebook (PDF).

Robinson Crusoe board game review - carpenter and scenario sheet

Pros

  • It's incredible to me how thematic Robinson Crusoe is! It's one of those edge-of-your-seat experiences that makes the ii-3 hours just fly past. Please let us know if y'all know of a more thematic game than this i because we definitely want to play it!
  • I don't retrieve this game needed multiple scenarios, but it'southward so awesome that information technology has them. Don't worry, though, it'southward piece of cake to start a new scenario once yous know the bones rules. Each one adds in some new objectives and a few rule changes.
  • There is so much replay value in Robinson Crusoe since information technology's almost impossible to play the same game twice. Not simply are there multiple scenarios to cull from, merely the dice rolls and the decks of cards make information technology hard to predict what you'll be facing. It really does tell a different story every time you play.
  • The randomness of the dice and the cards only makes sense in this game. It works considering this is an adventure game and in these scenarios you wouldn't know what was right around the corner. Yous don't know if you're going to have to fight a big animal or if you'll be able to get the supplies you'll need to survive the night.
  • I'm a big fan of the overall look of Robinson Crusoe. It'south a bit intimidating to see all of those components on and around the lath at first, merely those are also the things that brand it easy to throw yourself into the theme.
  • It'due south very cool how worker placement is implemented in Robinson Crusoe. You only have a few workers, but you can send them to a bunch of places on the board and perform the actions you need to help the team (hopefully) win. Building is and so fun and rewarding in this game!
  • Each grapheme feels quite different. They all have multiple unique special abilities that help players to know what they should be looking out for throughout the game. The soldier is adept at hunting, the carpenter is adept at creating and fixing things, etc.

Cons

  • I definitely recommend that new players have a await at this crib sheet on BGG. It makes getting through each stage of the game so much simpler. The game comes with a nice-looking dominion book, but it is not easy to navigate. (Update: The rulebook is much meliorate in the newest edition and it comes with a dainty reference sheet)
  • This game is very tough. That'southward going to plough some people abroad, merely my group loves tougher co-ops. I don't know if Robinson Crusoe is as hard equally Ghost Stories, simply losses definitely hit you harder since games are so much longer and you put so much effort into them.

Terminal Thoughts

It might not be the best choice if you are new to cooperative board games, just Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island is a wildly entertaining game for those that give themselves some fourth dimension to become familiar with information technology. It's my group's favorite co-op board game and second identify isn't really close to it correct now.

Anyone who likes survival and/or adventure games should dearest what this game offers. You really do feel similar y'all're on a mysterious island and anybody has to work together to survive. It's very challenging and about equally thematic every bit cooperative board games come. I never knew I needed a Robinson Crusoe lath game in my life, but I am very glad that I randomly decided to give this i a endeavour a few years ago!

Update: Added images from the newest version of the game and updated all links.

Update 2: Robinson Crusoe was added to the Best Take chances Board Games listing!

Robinson Crusoe Links

BGG | Amazon | CoolStuffInc | eBay

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