# Robinson Crusoe ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1870 - **BGG Rating**: — - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 - **Duration**: 10 min - **Weight**: — - **Designers**: (Uncredited) - **Publishers**: Milton Bradley - **Categories**: Children's Game, Novel-based - **Mechanics**: Roll / Spin and Move ## Verdict If you enjoy cooperative games with a strong narrative and constant challenges, "Robinson Crusoe" is a fantastic choice! It's like living your own survival adventure.Immersive survival experienceEmergent narrative each gameIntense cooperative challengesHigh replayability with cardsHigh language dependencyCan be very punishingRules require focusHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Prepare for a survival adventure in "Robinson Crusoe: Adventure on the Cursed Island"! Inspired by the literary classic, this game places you and your friends (1-4 players) on a deserted island after a shipwreck. The goal? Survive and, perhaps, unravel the mysteries the island hides. You'll need to build a makeshift shelter, hunt for food, defend yourselves against wild animals, and cope with the weather. Each turn, you decide which actions to take: explore new areas, craft tools and weapons, tame animals, or even fortify your dwelling. The game unfolds through event and item cards, bringing unique challenges and opportunities to each playthrough. The complexity is moderate, requiring coordination and planning to overcome dangers and adapt to island life. Will you manage to thrive, or will you succumb to the perils and solitude? The story is written by you, with every decision made. "Robinson Crusoe" is not just a game; it's an emergent narrative where dice luck mixes with team strategy. Each game is a new story, full of twists and moments of pure tension. Get ready for an immersive experience that will test your survival and cooperation skills. The island awaits you! ## How to Play Game Objective In Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island, players take on the roles of castaways who must survive on a hostile island. The goal is to cooperate to achieve the specific objectives of each Scenario within a limited number of turns. This may include building special items, exploring specific locations, or overcoming environmental challenges. If the players manage to achieve the Scenario's objective before time runs out, everyone wins. Otherwise, or if one of the characters dies, all players lose the game. Setup To set up the game, follow these steps: Place the board in the center of the table and choose a Scenario. It is recommended to start with the introductory Scenario "Castaways." Each player chooses or randomly receives a Character Sheet and takes 2 Action Pawns of the chosen color, 1 Wound Marker, and the Invention Card indicated on the sheet. Prepare the Invention cards by shuffling them and placing them on the board as indicated. Place the Morale, Weapons, Roof, and Palisade markers on their starting spaces. Shuffle the Adventure, Mystery, Animals, and Events decks and place them in their corresponding spaces on the board. Place the Island Tiles and the Camp on the board according to the chosen Scenario. Distribute the Starting Items and organize the resource markers and Discovery tokens within reach of all players. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The game is divided into turns, each consisting of 6 phases: Event Phase: Reveal a card from the Events deck and apply its effect. Morale Phase: Check the group's morale level and distribute or discard Determination tokens. Production Phase: Collect resources from the Island Tile where the Camp is located. Action Phase: Players allocate their Action Pawns to perform actions such as hunting, building, exploring, etc. Weather Phase: Roll the Weather dice and apply the effects of the weather conditions. Night Phase: All characters must eat and may rest or move the Camp. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play During the Action Phase, players can perform various actions: Threat Action: Resolve an Event card to gain benefits and avoid negative effects. Hunt: Face animals to collect food and pelts, but beware of injuries. Build: Construct structures like Shelter, Roof, Palisade, or Weapons, or turn Inventions into Items. Gather: Collect resources from Island Tiles distant from the Camp. Explore: Explore new areas of the Island. Organize Camp: Gain Determination tokens or increase the group's Morale. Rest: Heal the character's wounds. Refer to the manual for details on this section. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when the players fulfill the Scenario's objective within the allotted number of turns or when a character dies. If the objective is achieved, all players win. Otherwise, all players lose. There is no scoring, only collective victory or defeat. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Prioritize building the Shelter: A Shelter protects the group at night and is essential for survival. Keep Morale high: High Morale allows you to gain Determination tokens, which are crucial for performing special actions. Explore carefully: Exploring new areas can bring valuable resources but may also expose the group to dangers. Plan your explorations in advance. Refer to the manual for details on this section. ## FAQ ### How many players can participate? The game is for 1 to 4 players. It works well at all counts, but the group cooperative experience is its strength. ### How long does a game take? A game can last between 60 to 120 minutes, depending on player experience and luck with events. ### Is the game difficult to learn? The complexity is considered medium-high. The rules are detailed and require attention, but the learning curve is worth the immersion. ### Do I need to know English to play? Yes, the game has a considerable language dependency, with many event cards and written rules. It's essential to have a good grasp of English or use a reference guide. ### Is it a competitive or cooperative game? It's a fully cooperative game. All players work together against the challenges presented by the island. ### What does "Novel-based" mean? It means the game's theme and story are inspired by Daniel Defoe's famous novel "Robinson Crusoe." ### What is the main objective of the game? The objective is to survive the island's dangers, fulfill the specific scenario goals, and, if possible, find a way to escape or thrive.