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 on LudoyaMythologyTerritory BuildingSolo / Solitaire GameCooperative GameAutomatic Resource Growth

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
3,015
Plays logged
941
Players
1h 35m
Average play
554
In collections
85
On wishlists
3
Pre-ordered

8.0/10

from 218 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.

If I play a Slow power, do I get its Elements right away so I can use them for Innates or other cards this turn?

Yes — you gain all Elements the moment you pay for a Power Card, even if the Power is Slow, but those Elements last only while the card is in play (they do not persist between turns). (pp. 8, 14)

What order do the Invaders act each turn — Ravage, Build, Explore — and when do you advance the Invader cards?

During the Invader Phase you resolve in this order: Blighted Island (if any), Fear, then Invader Actions: Ravage, then Build, then Explore; after Explore you slide the cards left so Build becomes Ravage next turn and Explore becomes Build. (pp. 9–10)

Do Dahan fight back during Ravage even if they were damaged or killed by the Ravage?

Only surviving Dahan fight back: after Invader Damage is fully resolved, any Dahan still alive each deal 2 Damage to the Invaders; Dahan destroyed by the Ravage do not fight back (damaged but surviving Dahan recover at end of turn). (pp. 9, 16)

When Blight is added to a land, does it remove Presence from every Spirit in that land?

Yes — whenever you add Blight to a land, destroy one Presence from each Spirit with Presence there; if the land already had Blight it also cascades to an adjacent land. (p. 15)

Can a land hold more than one Presence from the same Spirit, and what is a Sacred Site?

A land can hold any number of Presence from any spirits; a Spirit’s Sacred Sites are any lands where that Spirit has more than one Presence. (p. 13)

Do Fast Powers have to be used in the Fast Power Phase, or can I wait and use them after Invaders act?

Fast Powers must be resolved during the Fast Power Phase and cannot be delayed until the Slow Phase; you may choose to skip a Fast Power instead of delaying it. (p. 8)

Score sheet by Ludoya

Spirit Island score sheet

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