Food Chain Island: Friendly Waters

Yay for variety! The additional sea creatures give you new ways of getting out of tight corners.

[size=16]❦ [/size] [b]Solo Mode[/b] // Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game) [size=16]❦ [/size] [b]Required Play Space[/b] // 20" x 16" [size=16]❦ [/size] [b]Setup Time[/b] // Almost None [size=16]❦ [/size] [b]Play Time[/b] // 10 Minutes

✅ The artwork is bright and charming, despite all of the animals eating each other in a calm, comical sort of way. ✅ Planning out how to stack animals is a very fun puzzle that requires some thought without being overwhelming. ✅ Using different grid layouts changes the game a lot and helps add a layer of variety that’s simple to implement. ✅ Some animals are better to activate earlier or later, and these choices have a meaningful impact on gameplay. ✅ Most of the rules are very straightforward and don’t require much more than looking up an ability now and then. ✅ Earning a victory requires some practice and experience, as lucking into a win would take a huge amount of luck.

❌ Every now and then, it can be easy to forget which animal was last used and which ability is currently active. ❌ Without the alternative starting layouts, the 4×4 grid can get a little stale and repetitive over the course of play. ❌ The expansions add some variety and new choices, yet the flying animals can add a little too much overhead. ❌ Some degree of luck is often needed to get the stacks started, and creating an impossible situation is possible.

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PNP

Can add some nice variation and if you include a third helpful sea creature, can make the base game a little bit easier if you're having a hard time beating it.