I'm a big fan of the "Pandemic Light" game of Forbidden Island. It's a beautiful game that fun to play and helps people like how cooperative board games are played. Coming off my high from Forbidden Island I snatched up the sequel game Forbidden Desert. After purchasing it I realized it might be a mistake. Why have two slightly different versions of the same game? It sat on my shelf for a long time. I kept meaning to play it but never got around to it. Until now.
This game may be similar to Forbidden Island, but it is not the same game. Forbidden Island had one thing out out to kill you (the slowly sinking island). Forbidden Island required you to collect and exchange cards in order to get the artifacts needed to win the game. Forbidden Island have a couple of "powers" to use to prevent disaster or press your advantage. This game on the other hand, has TWO things trying to kill you (you're slowly being buried in sand, and you're quickly dying of thirst). Forbidden Desert does away with card collecting and exchanging for artifacts and instead gives you mission to hunt for coordinates for said artifacts, shelters from the sun, precious water, and gear that again gives you powers to help keep you alive and win the game. All of this means...
A Worthy Sequel
When I finally got to play this game with just one other player, I enjoyed it very much. The artwork is fantastic. The gameplay is actually much simpler than it sounds, and its easy to get going right away. The "treasure hunting" mechanic works extremely well and makes the game exciting, as does the moving storm and draining water levels. I actually like this game better than Forbidden Island, because it seems to be more "action" oriented as you are dune-blasting, jet-packing, and digging for treasure, water, and clues, rather than just collecting cards and passing them around most of the time. This game is an outstanding value and whole lot of fun. If you enjoyed Forbidden Desert and want to try something new I highly recommend it. It's similar enough to feel familiar, and different enough to feel fresh and fun. Highly recommended to fan of Forbidden Island and Newcomers alike! Here's hoping for a sequel called (wait for it) Forbidden Planet! :)
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This item: Gamewright - Forbidden Desert Cooperative Survival Adventure Board Game for 2-5 Players – Family Strategy for Ages 10+
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Product information
| Product Dimensions | 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 0.01 ounces |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| ASIN | B00B4ECHJI |
| Item model number | 415 |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 10 - 15 years |
| Best Sellers Rank | #29,508 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games) #780 in Board Games (Toys & Games) |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Release date | August 5, 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Manufacturer | Ceaco |
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From the manufacturer
Forbidden Island
Dare to discover Forbidden Island! Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise. Your team will have to work together and make some pulse-pounding maneuvers, as the island will sink beneath every step! Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed into the watery abyss!
It’s a great honor to introduce the latest creation by cooperative game master, Matt Leacock. There are so many things we love about this unique game: from the rich illustrations, to the collaborative nature of play, to the innovative set of rules, to the infinite possibilities generated by the tiles and cards. Don’t be surprised if your pulse starts pounding faster soon after you start playing – it’s a game that instantly generates an electrifying atmosphere of tension and excitement!
Forbidden Desert
Gear up for a thrilling adventure to recover a legendary flying machine buried deep in the ruins of an ancient desert city. You'll need to coordinate with your teammates and use every available resource if you hope to survive the scorching heat and relentless sandstorm. Find the flying machine and escape before you all become permanent artifacts of the forbidden desert!
In Forbidden Desert, a thematic sequel to Forbidden Island, players take on the roles of brave adventurers who must throw caution to the wind and survive both blistering heat and blustering sand in order to recover a legendary flying machine buried under an ancient desert city. While featuring cooperative gameplay similar to Forbidden Island, Forbidden Desert is a fresh, new game based around an innovative set of mechanisms such as an ever-shifting board, individual resource management, and a unique method for locating the flying machine parts.
Forbidden Sky
Soar to dizzying heights in this electrifying cooperative adventure! Work as a team to explore a mysterious platform that floats at the center of a savage storm. Connect a circuit of cables to launch a secret rocket - all before you are struck by lightning or blown off to the depths below. It’s a high-wire act that will test your team’s capacity for courage and cooperation. One false step and you all could be grounded… permanently!
The saga continues! What started off as a simple island adventure has evolved into an ever-developing storyline. From ocean, to desert, and now to the sky, this latest installment takes you to new heights with several novel challenges, including collectively planning a terrain using only limited information, and constructing a real electrical circuit.
Forbidden Island
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| Customer Reviews |
10,289
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3,737
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| Price | $20.99 | $28.00 | — no data |
| Number of Players | 2-4 Players | 2-5 Players | 2-5 Players |
| Ages | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ |
| Length of Game Time | 30 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
| Game Type | Card Game | Card Game | Card Game |
| Game Theme | Adventure | Adventure | Adventure |
| Awards | Mensa Select, 2011 Spiel des Jahres Finalist, MTV Geek, Top Board Game of 2010, BoardgameGeek.com Golden Geek Award, Games Magazine Top 100 Game, Parents' Choice Recommended, and FunFare All Star Award |
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Games for the Infinitely Imaginative
Gamewright was founded in 1994 by four parents whose kids wanted great games. From the start, our mission has remained clear: Create the highest quality family games with outstanding play-value. Guided by themes and experiences that transcend age and salted with a bit of irreverence, our games are designed to foster laughter, learning, friendship and fun.
Over the years our family has grown to over 150 games and countless happy players. The thousands of letters we receive from kids, parents, grandparents, and teachers tell us our hearts are in the right place. Thank you for inviting us into your home and for playing with Gamewright!
Forbidden Desert does not desert its predecessor.
I was first introduced to Forbidden Island when playing a friend's copy and found it to be a fun game with some unique mechanics. When I learned about Forbidden Desert I figured this would be similar but was surprised at the added twists this game has. It still relies on cooperation (though in my experience it seems like games tend to gravitate towards an overall "leader") but now literally adds the new layer of sand. It's a challenging game with replayability (winning is not easy and varies from game to game based on how the board is randomly pieced together). You and your fellow players find yourselves to have crash landed in the desert and are in a race against time to not only excavate the rumored sun powered aircraft but to also piece it together before the sand storm becomes too strong. Some fun game play differences when comparing with Forbidden Island: tunnels can be uncovered allowing you to move further along the playing field, there is a sand storm that has a mind of its own adding a level of unpredictability to the game (you do not know where the sand will pile up next or how many tiles the storm impacts), the way parts are unveiled adds a bit of uncertainty as you hope what lies beneath the sand will help save you (while in Forbidden Island you could come up with a plan on how to retrieve the different elements). The quality is high- with the game coming in a nice tin and pieces made of sturdy, thick cardboard as well as metal/plastic craft pieces. The only thing to be careful for is the propeller, it is rather fragile and can easily break. Cooperative games are not for everyone, as I have found when attempting to introduce others to the concept, and Forbidden Desert is no exception to some not understanding/enjoying these types of games. If you enjoy cooperative games then this is a fun time that I can see you playing again and again! If you have Forbidden Island, this is definitely a step up. The makers said that they were taking on the challenge of creating a completely new game play experience while leaving elements of Forbidden Island in tact and I believe they have succeeded.
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
- NeuroEmergentReviewed in Canada on July 26, 2017
Fun game whether you're playing with 2 or 5 players.
Style: Forbidden DesertVerified Purchase
Forbidden Desert is made by Matt Leacock, who has created a whole host of fun, cooperative board games. The reason I even looked up Forbidden Desert (and the similar Forbidden Island) is because I played Pandemic. While Pandemic lacks a moving board, the rule set is somewhat similar. You get four moves per turn to perform several different actions.NeuroEmergentFun game whether you're playing with 2 or 5 players.
Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2017
The goal of Forbidden Desert is for you and your friends to reassemble your broken flying machine while navigating the perils of the desert. At its simplest level, it reminds me of playing Ravensburger Labyrinth, a great game in its own right; although, that game was about messing with your opponents. Forbidden Desert, on the other hand, requires you to work together... or burn to death trying. I absolutely love the concept of moving tiles. Something about its inherent simplicity while still having a different board every play-through is enjoyable.
My friends and I have been getting more and more into board games. Thanks to their variety, imagination, and sometimes strategic complexity, they're making a comeback into our get-together gaming rotation. However, I didn't buy this simply to play with my friends. Sometimes, my wife and I want to disconnect, chill, and play something off-screen. Forbidden Desert (and Island) are perfectly playable with 2 people. 3 or more ups the chaos, but the base experience is still fun with limited players.
Rather than get into the mechanics, I highly recommend you Google "how to play forbidden desert." There's a great YouTube video by "Board Simple" that explains the game concept as well as mechanics in detail. I'll leave the link in the comment section below my review as well. Just click the comments link if you're so inclined.
•• Conclusion ••
Overall, this game is great for 3-5 players... or simply 2. The game play is elegant, and I love the shifting board, ensuring no two play-throughs are the exact same. The rules don't take long to learn, and you won't be diving into the rule book every single play-through to figure things out. I highly recommend it, especially at around the $30 mark. You could do way worse for hours upon hours of playtime.
Images in this review
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Andrea QuintanaReviewed in Mexico on January 2, 2022
Me encantó
Style: Forbidden DesertVerified Purchase -
- Sugu AlthomsonsReviewed in Japan on November 8, 2015
An amazing game
Style: Forbidden DesertVerified Purchase -
M.Reviewed in Spain on February 23, 2020
"Simple" y rápido juego cooperativo
Style: Forbidden DesertVerified Purchase
