Forbidden Island: An Overall Guide to Rules, Instructions & Winning Strategies

Introduction

Forbidden Island is a cooperative board game that offers an exciting, immersive experience. The game was designed by Matt Leacock and published by Gamewright in 2010. It has since gained popularity for its unique gameplay and challenging strategies. The game is set on a mysterious island that is sinking, and players must work together to collect treasures and escape before they are swallowed by the sea. The equipment needed to play Forbidden Island includes the game board, which is made up of 24 tiles representing different locations on the island, treasure cards, flood cards, and adventurer cards. Each player also has a pawn that represents their character in the game.

The game is a co-operative challenge where players work together as a team to secure four sacred treasures from the ruins of a sinking island. The game was awarded Mensa Select in 2010 and won the 2011 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) in the “Family game” category. It has since gained popularity for its collaborative gameplay and exciting, unpredictable nature.

Rules for playing Forbidden Island

The official rules for Forbidden Island are straightforward. The game begins with the island’s tiles arranged in a specific pattern and six of them already flooded. Players are dealt adventurer cards which determine their character’s special abilities. They also receive two treasure cards. The game progresses in turns, with each player performing three actions on their turn. These actions can include moving, shoring up a flooded tile, giving a treasure card to another player, or claiming a treasure. After each player’s turn, new locations are flooded and players draw treasure cards.

While the official rules provide a challenging and exciting game, some players may choose to introduce ‘house rules’ for variations of the game. For example, a common house rule is to increase the difficulty level by flooding more tiles at the start of the game.

How do you play Forbidden Island

1. Setup: Arrange the tiles in the specified pattern and flood six of them. Deal each player an adventurer card and two treasure cards.
2. Gameplay: Players take turns performing three actions. They can move, shore up a tile, give a treasure card to another player, or claim a treasure. After each turn, new tiles are flooded and players draw treasure cards.
3. End of the Game: The game ends when players have collected all four treasures and escaped from the island. If the island sinks before this happens, or if a player is on a tile when it sinks and cannot move to an adjacent tile, the players lose.

How to Win at Forbidden Island

Winning at Forbidden Island requires strategic thinking and cooperation. The game is not about individual victory but about the team’s success. Therefore, players must work together, using their characters’ special abilities to their advantage and ensuring that no player is left behind. It’s also crucial to prioritize which tiles to shore up and when to claim treasures. I’ve found that a good strategy is to keep the island as balanced as possible, preventing any one area from becoming too flooded. It’s also important to keep an eye on the flood draw pile. If it runs out, the game ends, so managing the flood cards effectively is key to winning.

Best Strategies for playing Forbidden Island game

The best strategies for playing Forbidden Island involve careful planning and effective communication. Players should discuss their moves with each other and plan their actions strategically. For example, it can be beneficial to have one player focus on shoring up tiles while others concentrate on collecting treasures. It’s also important to use the special abilities of the characters wisely. For instance, the Pilot can fly to any tile once per turn, which can be a game-changer in critical situations. Additionally, players should be mindful of the treasure cards in their hand and consider giving cards to other players if it helps to collect a treasure faster.

• Understand the roles: Each player in the Forbidden Island game has a unique role with special abilities. Understanding these roles and using their abilities strategically can help in winning the game.

• Prioritize the tiles: Some tiles like Fool’s Landing, the temples, and the tiles with the statues are more important than others. Prioritize saving these tiles from sinking.

• Communicate with your teammates: The game is all about cooperation and team strategy. Always discuss your moves with your teammates and plan together.

• Diversify your roles: Having a diverse team of roles can help you counter different situations. For instance, the Pilot can move to any tile, the Explorer can move diagonically, and the Diver can swim through sunken tiles.

• Utilize the ‘Sandbags’ and ‘Helicopter Lift’ cards: These special action cards can be real game changers. Use the ‘Sandbags’ card to save a critical tile from sinking and the ‘Helicopter Lift’ card to move players or to lift off the island at the end of the game.

• Balance between shoring up tiles and finding treasures: While it’s important to shore up sinking tiles, don’t forget the main objective of the game is to collect all four treasures. Find a balance between these tasks.

• Be mindful of the water level: The water level increases throughout the game, causing more tiles to sink. Keep an eye on the water level and adjust your strategy accordingly.

• Don’t hoard cards: You can only hold five cards at a time, so don’t hoard them. Use the cards wisely and pass them to your teammates when needed.

• Stay close to Fool’s Landing: Towards the end of the game, make sure all players are close to Fool’s Landing, as everyone needs to be on this tile to escape the island.

• Always have a contingency plan: The game is unpredictable, always have a backup plan in case things don’t go as planned.

Scenarios for Forbidden Island

There are several scenarios that players might find themselves in while playing Forbidden Island. For example, a common scenario is having a crucial tile, such as Fool’s Landing, become flooded. In this case, players should prioritize shoring up this tile to prevent it from sinking. Another scenario is when a player has a treasure card that another player needs. Here, the players should arrange to meet on the same tile so that the card can be given. In a worst-case scenario, where a player is on a sinking tile and cannot move to an adjacent tile, other players should try to rescue them if possible, or the game will be lost.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Forbidden Island game

1. What happens if the flood draw pile runs out? If the flood draw pile runs out, the game ends and the players lose.
2. Can a player perform the same action multiple times on their turn? Yes, a player can perform the same action multiple times on their turn.
3. Can players trade treasure cards? Players can give treasure cards to other players, but only if they are on the same tile.
4. What happens if a player is on a tile when it sinks? If a player is on a tile when it sinks and cannot move to an adjacent tile, the game ends and the players lose.
5. How many treasures do players need to collect to win? Players need to collect all four treasures and escape from the island to win.

External Links

How to Play Forbidden Island in 3 Minutes [Video]