The Isle of Cats

The City of Games, Arclight Games, GaGa Games · Board game · 2019

Ludopedia: 8.3 Ludopedia
BoardGameGeek: 7.6 BoardGameGeek
Players: 1–4 · best 3
Players: Solo
Play Time: 60–90 min
Weight: Weight 2.4/5
Year: Year 2019
Minimum age: Minimum age 8+

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8.3 rating Ludopedia

7.6 rating BoardGameGeek

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Ask anything about The Isle of Cats: rules, setup, components, complexity, price, or whether it fits your group.

Example questions

Learn to play Step by step, manual and videos

How to play Rules manual Watch video

Our Verdict

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

If you're looking for a charming puzzle with strategic depth and adorable felines, The Isle of Cats offers a delightful blend of card drafting and polyomino placement that will keep you purring with satisfaction. It's a fantastic choice for those who enjoy optimizing their board and discovering unique scoring opportunities.

Highlights

Engaging polyomino puzzle with cute cats
Deep strategic scoring via unique lessons
Excellent blend of card drafting and placement
High replayability with varied objectives

Keep in mind

Can feel overwhelming with many options
Theme might not appeal to everyone

Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.

Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready for a nautical adventure in 'The Isle of Cats', a competitive, medium-weight game that blends card drafting with polyomino cat placement! You and your friends are citizens of Squall's End, embarking on an urgent rescue mission to save as many adorable felines as possible from The Isle of Cats before the dreaded Lord Vesh arrives to wreak havoc. Each kitty is represented by a unique tile and belongs to a family, and your challenge is to fit them all onto your boat, keeping families together for extra points. But that's not all! You'll need to manage your resources wisely as you explore the island, rescue cute cats, discover hidden treasures, and study ancient lessons. Each of the 38 unique lessons you collect offers a new personal way to score points, adding a deep strategic layer to the game. Complete these lessons, fill your boat with kitties, and keep families together to accumulate the most points. The player with the highest score after five rounds of pure feline fun will be the grand winner. With a family mode and a solo version, 'The Isle of Cats' offers a challenging and engaging experience for players of all levels, from casual to seasoned gamers.

Expansions

Published additional content

9 items

The Isle of Cats: Boat Pack

The Isle of Cats: Kickstarter Pack

The Isle of Cats: Kickstarter Pack 2

The Isle of Cats: Kittens + Beasts

The Isle of Cats: Late Arrivals

The Isle of Cats: Promo Tile Pack 1

The Isle of Cats: Promo Tile Pack 2

The Isle of Cats: Promo Tile Pack 3

The Isle of Cats: Treasure Pack

Gallery

Box and component photos

11 photos · from the community

01 / 11

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Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

12 videos

In English

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — The Isle of Cats English · PDF

Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–4 players

1 REC

2 REC

3 BEST

4 REC

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher The City of Games, Arclight Games, GaGa Games, Geekach LLC, Gémklub, Intrafin Games

Designer Frank West

Artist Dragolisco, Frank West

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

44,390owners

7,821wishlist

599want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions

How many players can play 'The Isle of Cats'?

'The Isle of Cats' can be played by 1 to 4 players. Yes, it has a really fun solo mode for when you want to save kitties by yourself!

What is the average game duration?

A game typically takes between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the number of players and everyone's familiarity with the rules.

What is the complexity level of the game?

It's considered a medium-weight game. It's not overly complex, but it offers plenty of strategic depth with card drafting and polyomino placement, making it accessible for families and challenging for more experienced players.

Are the components of good quality?

Yes, the components are of excellent quality, featuring unique cat tiles, sturdy boat boards, and well-illustrated cards that contribute to the thematic immersion.

Is this game for beginners or more experienced players?

It's a versatile game! It has a 'family mode' that simplifies some rules for beginners and children, but it also offers a challenging experience with lessons and point optimization for more experienced players.

Do I need to know English to play?

The language dependency is moderate. The cards have text, so a translated spreadsheet or translated cards (if a localized version exists) will greatly help with game flow.

What is the main objective of the game?

Your main goal is to rescue as many cats as possible from The Isle of Cats, fit them efficiently onto your boat (keeping families together), and complete lessons to accumulate the most victory points before Lord Vesh arrives.