Spirit Island

2017 · Fantasy

Spirit Island

Players take the roles of powerful island spirits defending native lands from waves of colonizing Invaders. Each spirit has unique elemental powers and a presence on the map; players spend energy to play power cards, combining cards with matching elements for bonus effects and timing fast or slow powers to influence the Invaders’ sequence of Explore → Build → Ravage. Between spirit actions, spirits Grow to reclaim cards, gain energy, unlock new powers, or spread their presence across the island. Invaders expand semi-predictably, towns and cities form and bring blight, and islanders can sometimes aid or be affected by powers. The game escalates as both spirits and Invaders advance, with variable adversaries that alter difficulty and behavior.

Players
1–4 best 2
Playing time
90–120 min
Age
13+
Complexity
4.1 / 5
8.1 on Ludoyafrom $48.99MythologyEnvironmentalCooperative GameArea Majority / InfluenceDeck, Bag, and Pool Building

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
3,046
Plays logged
974
Players
1h 35m
Average play
605
In collections
98
On wishlists
3
Pre-ordered

8.1/10

from 236 Ludoya reviews

  • Garfield7.0

    #2.2 BGExpansions im Dach Schatzkiste #55 Hm, not quite sure what to write here. The theme was interesting. Gameplay flows. But we had the feeling regardless what we do or how many enemies we killed, they become more and more and more and there is little you can do about this. Too much luck based? Have to replay it. [c] Theme: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Ok --> Gameplay: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]A little bit too repetitive --> Interaction: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]A lot of interaction is needed --> Artwork: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]The board itself is quite ugly, the spirit cards are amazing --> Luck: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Maybe even more luck involved? --> Strategy: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Yes --> Components: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Good, nothing special --> Play duration: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Felt a little bit long --> Easy to teach: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Not that hard to teach as you might think --> Rules quality: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Ok, 6 questions asked --> Setup time: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]Takes a little bit... --> No downtime: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Almost no downtime and you can always interact with your team --> Replay value: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Different spirits and try to beat the game --> [/c]

    No plays logged

  • zim zhang5.0

    I can't understand why people call this a Pandemic-like game. Pandemic has a concrete objective: discovering cures. In Spirit Island, meanwhile, all you do is kill invaders round after round. That loop doesn't appeal to me.

    No plays logged

  • Mestremuten8.0

    Rating: 4/5 Production value: 3/4 Is the game in my collection/Love to have?: 1/1

    Played it 5 times

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Can I play more Power Cards than my Card Plays if I have enough Energy?

No. Your limit is the highest uncovered number on your Card Plays track, and you must pay for every card you play immediately—even Slow cards (p. 8).

Can I save a Fast Power and use it during the Slow Power phase?

No. Fast Powers must be used in the Fast Power phase or skipped; Slow Powers resolve after the Invader phase (pp. 8, 10).

When do Explorers get added during an Explore, and can a land get more than one?

Add one Explorer to each land of the revealed terrain that contains a Town or City, or is adjacent to a Town, City, or Ocean. Even if multiple sources qualify, that land gets only one Explorer (p. 10).

Does a Ravage hurt the Dahan even if I prevent Blight, and do the Dahan fight back?

Invaders deal damage to both the land and Dahan; Defend can reduce the damage to either or both. After the Ravage damage is resolved, each surviving Dahan deals 2 damage to Invaders—even if Defend reduced their damage to zero (pp. 9, 18).

Can one Power affect several different lands, or does it have to meet every condition in its effect text?

Unless it explicitly says otherwise, a Power affects one target land, and all its effects apply there. Conditions in the target bar restrict which land you can choose; if an effect line cannot be carried out, skip it and do the rest (p. 17).

If I remove a Town or City, do I get Fear like when I destroy one?

No. Destroying a Town generates 1 Fear and destroying a City generates 2 Fear, but removing or replacing either does not generate that automatic Fear (pp. 18).

Official score sheet

Spirit Island score sheet

Every scoring category, from the Ludoya kit. On your phone the totals add up by themselves.

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Score sheets and play helpers

  • Full Game Kit
  • Spirit Island - Game Kit
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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.