Derek
United States
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
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Disclaimer:I'm writing this short review assuming that the reader is familiar with the rules and mechanics of the game... these are my impressions after ~9 plays with my non-gamer fiance.
Forbidden Island... where do I start? The first thing I will make everyone aware of (if you weren't already)... this game is RIDICULOUSLY cheap. Like, 12-16 dollar range, shipped.
Being the relatively cheap person I am, I had to pick this game up... I mean, look at what you get for the equivalent of a meal for two at Taco Johns:
Photo courtesy of fretster
I was instantly sold. I read a few reviews here at the geek which only furthered my excitement... ran down to the nearest Barne's and Noble and picked it up for $15.
Now, my fiance is an avid non-gamer... loves to hate on my "nerdy games" etc. but every now and then, I can rope her into trying something new (besides Farkel/Sorry/Uno). Forbidden Island instantly drew her in with it's beautifully illustrated tiles and cards, the story didn't grab her at first... but once the island started sinking and all hell was breaking loose, she started taking her role much more seriously.
The thing that I absolutely loved about this game is that it is SO easy for a non-gamer to pick up and understand. She was grasping the concept of using heli lifts instead of moving when she needed to, getting me cards, etc. At no point did I feel like I was telling her what to do... it was amazing. So many co-op games suffer from Strong Leader Syndrome, where one player takes over the role of leader and tells everyone else what to do on their turns, this was not the case with Forbidden Island.
Every session I've played has been fun, fast, exciting and interactive... which didn't surprise me much, I knew it would be fun. My biggest surprise came when our first game ended and she asked, "Can we play again?"
My mouth about hit the floor... but the funny part was, it didn't surprise me so much when she asked to play another round after our second was over.
This is, hands down, the best "gateway" game for the money... and so much more than that because it has great appeal to me as well.
9/10
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Joe Rogers
Canada
Ottawa
Ontario
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A lot of hard-core gamers (of which I am slowly becoming) love to hate on gateway games, but Forbidden Island is one I just love. It's hard for me to get my significant other to play games with me too, but Forbidden Island is one he will always go to (as is Incan Gold... a game I will play but is not as much fun as Forbidden Island, and of course the standard classic of gateway games, Ticket to Ride).
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Alright, now get back to your PBF moderating job.
 Seriously tho, I bought this game but have yet to play it. Based on your review, I'm looking forward to breaking it out for a gathering of non-gamer friends.
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Derek
United States
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
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chromaticdragon wrote: Alright, now get back to your PBF moderating job. Seriously tho, I bought this game but have yet to play it. Based on your review, I'm looking forward to breaking it out for a gathering of non-gamer friends.
I also played a 3p session with my fiance and one of my friends and he thought it was great... this kid doesn't play any games.
BTW, regarding the PBF... I was out of town so, pfbbbt!
That game is coming up on 45 days or so lol, I don't have any of the card scans here at work so I can't update until later.
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yep, great game
Target has them for $15.99
I got a spare for a gift someday ...
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Matt Leacock
United States
Sunnyvale
California
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You picked up a FI at Target?!?
Where?
- Matt
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Derek
United States
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
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Hey, lookee thar! Designer in my review... even though, if I had distribution in Target and didn't know it, I would be quite surprised as well .
FWIW, I was just in Target and haven't seen it there or on the website.
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mleacock wrote: You picked up a FI at Target?!?
Where?
- Matt
It's been at Target in Port Huron, Michigan for a few months.
Forbidden Island, Dominion, Ticket To Ride (and a few others) are currently relegated to the bottom shelf, but it's a start 
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Angela R
United States
Michigan
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This is the game that got my husband and me "into" board games! We always liked playing games together (backgammon, Cranium and the like) but we learned about a whole new world of board gaming when my mom gave this to us for Christmas 2010. Since then we've gotten probably 20 Euro-style games. The art is gorgeous and I can't believe how cheap it is. It was also my introduction to cooperative games. It's just so appealing, I think it's a great gateway game! Even with all the others we own now, I would never turn down playing this one!
Speaking of Target's selection - at our store in Grand Rapids, MI they've had Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan for a while but recently added the Fantasy Flight reprint of Knizia's Lord of the Rings - I thought that was pretty surprising.
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