Greater Than Games | Horizons of Spirit Island | Cooperative Strategy Board Game | 1 to 3 Players | 90+ Minutes | Ages 14+

Customer reviews

• C. NealOct 23, 2023

  So maybe it's just a sign that I'm getting old, but right out of the box this game is overwhelmingly complex. There's both a "quick start" set of instructions and an "instruction" set of instructions. Both have to be read before you can really play the game, contrary to the "instructions" that refer you to the "quick start" instructions.Thematically, this is lightly environmentalist/anti-colonialist/anti-corporate, so if you care about such things then that applies here too.Overall, for the price you're getting a lot of game. But know what you're getting into beforehand.

• Ross GlennSep 25, 2023

  What it's not: Kid's First Spirit Island. What it is: a $15-$20 "demo version" of Spirit Island with cardboard replacing almost all components, two fixed boards, and five basic spirits to introduce new players to this game. It's still very much the same heavy game as the main game. Most copies will probably just be recycled to gain the +5 spirits for the main game.But what you get for the price can't be beat, so I'd rate "value for money" at six stars if I could.

• Board and stuffSep 24, 2023

  I love spirit island. Is a fantastic game so when i saw this version i did not hesitated.FeaturesThis version is a smaller low cost entrance to spirit island which is a bigger game. Lacks plastic minis components of the original and substitutes them with card board tokens but thw work. Is great. Map is smaller and contain on one board instead of having separate portions of the island.But it includes new spirits to play that are compatible with bigger spirt island.The rules are streamlined and better explained making this rulebook easier to ear and teach. Is fast to set up and play. Very fun and if you learn to play this one you will have no issues playing the bigger one.

• Slippery JimAug 13, 2023

  You probably already know something about Spirit Island if you're looking at this.There are of course more thorough sources of discussion and review for this particular incarnation.Regardless, it is exactly what it purports to be -- a more affordably-produced (i.e. cheaper components) version of a really great cooperative game. As a bonus to people who might already have said fancier original version of the game, this variant comes with 5 new beginner-friendly spirits which are also (in my opinion) fun to play, and worthwhile to have available for fans of the game, in general.For people that don't already have regular Spirit Island, this is a great way to try it out and see if you like the gameplay. And of course even if you do, there's nothing that says you can't stick with this affordable version in its nice small portable easier-to-store box.You always have the option to buy its big older brother and start slowing getting sucked into the expansions available for that one, in the future, when you've finally got that dedicated board gaming space and your kids finally aren't demanding all your time, and work has calmed down, etc.

• Ryan CollinsAug 6, 2023

  The publisher purposely made this version of Spirit Island a bit easier to learn than the original base game. It can still be a bit complicated to learn all the moving parts for some, but, in our experience, it is qute an enjoyable board game for those able to grasp the play mechanics. Each playable spirit is unique and if you don't like one there are plenty more to try. If you love this game as much as our play group did then there are expansions and online communities that will help to make this enjoyable and social for years to come! This game easily fits on a shelf, even if you buy all of it then it still condenses nicely, though you may want to look into a box insert such as TowerRex.

• Handy Tech GrandpaJul 28, 2023

  The Horizons of Spirit Island game (I’ll say Horizons for short) is designed to be somewhat of an introductory version of the previously published “Spirit Island” game, and that original game is currently one of the top dozen rated board games. Horizons is a full game that stands on its own… the original Spirit Island is NOT needed to play this.As a side note: the 5 spirit characters in this game can be used for variety in place of spirits when playing the original Spirit Island.As an introductory version of this game series, the complexity is lower, and some aspects of game play are not present in this game. That said, this Horizons version is still more complex than a typical “family game” and is for teens and/or adults. Horizons is a “cooperative game” where all players work together to defeat the game system. It does have a solo mode which facilitates learning, practice and playing when nobody else wants to join in.Since Horizons is intended to be an introduction to this game series, the publisher apparently decided to make this an “easier buy decision” with a lower price point compared to the original. To do that, the production costs were lowered by simplifying or reducing the quality of game components. If you are not familiar with the original, you probably won’t notice this, and I think Horizon’s components are generally good quality when compared to the average board game.I ordered this in the Amazon Vine program, but that does not influence my review opinion. Starting long before Amazon existed, I have played hundreds of different games - good and bad. So, I know a bit about game playability, comparative component quality, etc. Coincidentally, I have not played the original Spirit Island, which I believe allows me to review this game on its own merits.

• WhitneyJul 26, 2023

  Great product, I’m glad they released this version of the spirit boards. I prefer they greyboard since they feel more sturdy and durable. The only down side is they are thicker, taking more box space. This may be an issue if you only have the Horizons version of the game, but if you also have the base game or expansion boxes it’s not a big deal.

• Not Your Average HikerJul 16, 2023

  I previously struggled with learning the parent game, Spirit Island, due to its complex rules. When I heard about this more approachable and affordable version, I saw it as an opportunity to give it another try.Overall, the reviews for this game have been positive, which piqued my interest. The Quickstart guide was highly recommended for understanding the game. So, I gathered two friends to embark on our journey with this "diamond in the rough".One issue we encountered was the board size and piece placement. The board quickly became crowded, making it difficult to determine which areas had which pieces. We had to stack pieces to maintain some semblance of organization. This was a significant drawback that should have been addressed during playtesting.Although the Quickstart guide provided a general understanding, once we had to make independent decisions, the gameplay became confusing. We had to refer to the other manual and resort to online searches for rule clarifications. Despite our experience as gamers, we couldn't fully grasp the game. It was disappointing to have another unsuccessful attempt at learning this board game.In my next attempt, I plan to watch YouTube videos to gain a better understanding. It surprises me that this version is marketed to the mass market, as it seems more suitable for hardcore gamers. Learning the game shouldn't feel like taking a course. However, I remain determined. With the help of someone knowledgeable in the rules, I believe I can eventually learn it.For now, I'll give this game 4 stars, hopeful that it will be enjoyable once I fully comprehend it.

• SzJul 4, 2023

  This game is deceptively complex, and having played the original Spirit Island, I was hoping that this version would be a "lighter" version of that game. While its setup is more streamlined, and the game features a quick start guide for three players, the core mechanisms are the same. In fact, the five new spirits in this version are compatible with the full game's components. For me, there's a little too much information to track among cooperating players, and it's a puzzle that doesn't seem to be worth the investment for me.I certainly recommend checking out this version before diving into the other game—after all, you'll be no worse off if you love this version and decide to expand your options with the bigger iteration. That's a smart option for a publisher, and a good option for a consumer. You can try a game and its mechanisms before going full-steam into it, yet this isn't merely a light version that will be supplanted by the bigger game. Nice! While I didn't care for it as much as most gamers (Spirit Island is highly rated among tabletop gamers), I recognize that this is a subjective opinion and doesn't necessarily reflect a poor design. In fact, I do think the design is sound, but it's just not my cup of tea.

• D. B.Jun 3, 2023

  I did not read any reviews before trying this out, and maybe I should have. I was not prepared for the level of complexity to play. My son and I enjoy all kinds of games and have played a ton!So we watched a couple how-to videos and read the quick start guide. However, an hour after sitting down we were only on the second round of play. I was overwhelmed by all the moving parts and we both got so mixed up that we threw in the towel. I'm going to have to sit down and close read the full manual before we give it another try.I think if one person could get the rules and sequence down pat they could carry the game for the other players. It looks like it would be pretty fun once you get that groove.The game itself is high quality materials and a great value. It's a really nice looking game, too. But I would only gift this to a serious gamer.