Matagot MTGISLE001 Treasure Island, Mixed Colours

Product Information

I mentioned that it leaves me wanting more, and I think that’s a takeaway that plenty of games could learn from. I don’t know that Treasure Island is the best deductive game, or one-vs-many game, or best pirate game. It won’t be for some, despite the merits I listed above. We Hairy Game Lords absolutely LOVED this game! The rich pirate theme transports you into the fun and frenzied angst of the hunt. However, when I started to think about how to sum this game up, “my favorite game under an hour” flashed through my head, and that seems like a respectable title for a game to have. For clarity, I don’t actually know if it holds that personal title for me. There are at least a few others in the running. But it’s definitely in the conversation. Interaction is strong throughout the game and down time between your go is almost non-existent, with everyone studying each other's moves for the revealing of clues and possible hints of where to search next. Deduction games aren’t new. Cryptid, and Letters From White Chapel, also use a big map and ask you to hunt down a single location. Treasure Island sets itself apart by allowing you to draw on the board and encouraging you to do so.

I’ve actually seen both, and frankly enjoyed both, because the former is an example of something I find kinda funny, and the latter is an example of some nicely deceptive play that should be rewarded with a convincing win. Both of those outcomes will feel anti-climactic in other groups, though, so gauge your interest accordingly.The lone caveat to that is that I’m not sure its full 5 players is going to be consistently good. It drags just a bit too much for me at that count, not giving any one player quite enough to engage with, relative to the whole. The more interesting problem is the X mark on your small map, and how you translate it to the larger map. It kind of creates a grey area for Long John Silver. Where they have to decide how lenient they’re going to be with their X. In all versions since "1958 version" (and perhaps earlier) the winner was the first to collect 20 points worth of treasure. The other point is that both of those instances are rare. The game seems well-balanced to create a rising sense of tension, with the final few turns either glorious in the triumph, or agonizing in how close the seekers came to finding it. The game itself is in excellent condition with only minor signs of use. The box is generally in very good condition. It has only minor age/storage wear. There is some pen marking on the lid but most of this has been removed and is only noticeable on close inspection – see photos.

My now favourite anecdote of Treasure Island – the book – is that its original name was The Sea Cook: A Story For Boys. This is such an 1800s book name if ever I heard of one. The name, of course, is a reference to one of the meanest cooks in all fiction: Long John Silver.The funny thing about Treasure Island is that during play everyone forgets it’s a free-for-all. Instead, in most of my plays, the player’s first priority was wanting Long John Silver to lose rather than win themselves. Thankfully, as Long John Silver, you’re provided with the tools to create havoc regardless of if they’ve teamed up or not. As each turn passes by, more of the board is covered with drawings and markings of failed searches, each one adding to the ever-increasing tension of the hunt. Long John Silver serves up hints and clues that could help his crew strike gold or could leave them struggling to decipher which direction was true and which was actually a bluff. I always play: if it’s close enough, it’s good enough. But anyone with a competitive streak could easily turn Treasure Island from a fun activity to the dinner scene from Donnie Darko.

Treasure Island by Matagot Games is a one vs many bluffing and misdirection game of hidden treasure and pirate hide and seek. Spirit Island is thematic, complex, replayable, with rules that aren't too hard to grasp but pave the way for incredibly deep and tough decisions. No other island board game makes you so invested in protecting the very island that is your home.

User Reviews (0)

Despite my constant losing streak as Long John Silver, I absolutely love Treasure Island. The thematic nature of the game comes through in spades, and drawing all over the game board feels not only unique, but it brings out my inner pirate doodler. The game is accessible enough that I’ve been able to play with with friends and neighbors, who have all enjoyed the deduction and social aspect of the game. If you love deduction games, messing with the minds of your fellow players, or even just talking like a pirate, Treasure Island is a gem that should be in everyone collection. ARrrrrrgghh! You'll grow more powerful with time, which makes it easier to deal with their growing encroachments. Ultimately, you want to strike so much fear into their hearts that they decide to abandon the island altogether. Final Score: 4.5 Stars – A thematic romp in search of buried treasure that both highly entertaining and very accessible.