"Spirit Island": Strategy and magic in the fight against invaders

Imagine you are on a lush, mystical island whose tranquillity is threatened by distant shores. The air is filled with magic. The spirits of the island awaken to fight the approaching invaders. In this atmospherically dense setting, we take on the roles of these ancient beings, each with unique abilities that they use to defend their homeland. We stand side by side in the fight against the threat from outside. The fate of the island is in our hands as we strategise to push back the invaders. It's a fierce battle in which every decision counts and the tension is constantly rising.

At the beginning, each person chooses a spirit with unique powers. These spirits, powerful and mysterious, are the guardians of the island, and each brings their own strengths and tactical advantages. With them, you must push back the invaders and prevent the devastation of the island. As the game progresses, the ghosts' abilities grow, but so does the threat posed by the invaders. Your goal is to thwart their plans by destroying their settlements and cities and forcing them to flee before the destruction gets out of hand.

The board game group of the Brettspielverein Zofingen tested "Spirit Island" for us and rated it in various categories:

Game idea and originality

"Spirit Island" turns the usual colonisation strategies on their head: Instead of conquering the island, you have to defend it. This makes the game not only thematically unique, but also emotionally captivating. The escalating threat posed by the invaders in particular ensures continuous tension. One player emphasises that the expansion of the invaders feels really destructive and is an overload that makes the game exciting.

Game material and quality

The cards and components are of high quality and cleverly designed, although the figures look a little fragile. Some of the group were less fond of the plain landscapes. However, the simple design significantly improves the readability of the playing field.

Rules and comprehensibility

The rules are clearly structured, but can be overwhelming at first. A quick guide and supplementary YouTube videos are suggested as helpful additions to make it easier to get started and avoid confusion.

Fun and engagement

The game offers a high level of tactical depth throughout and remains exciting right to the end. The test group found it particularly appealing to react flexibly to the actions of the invaders. One player says that the game is almost exhausting at times, but it is precisely this challenge that makes the game fun.

Interaction between the players

Intense communication and cooperation make "Spirit Island" an outstanding co-operative experience. A successful battle plan requires constant coordination. One of the games led to success because the group had perfectly coordinated their skills.

Replay value

With numerous ghosts, scenarios and opponents, "Spirit Island" offers enormous replayability. Every game is different and the different levels of difficulty provide new challenges every time. The testers found the opportunity to constantly try out new strategies with different spirits particularly exciting.

Our board game group rated "Spirit Island" very positively. Despite a few minor suggestions for improvement, the overall verdict was clear: "Spirit Island" is a must-have for anyone who loves in-depth and co-operative strategy games.