Spirit Island

Starting at €24.50Buy now

In Spirit Island, players embody spirits defending their island home from colonists in a cooperative strategy game. Working with native Dahan, players use unique elemental powers to drive invaders away and protect the land from blight and destruction. The number of spirits chosen determines the island's size, offering varied experiences for 1-4 players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 765 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Faithful adaptation of the physical board game with intuitive UI and smooth gameplay.
Great for solo play, allowing players to focus on strategy without the hassle of setup and bookkeeping.
High replayability with diverse spirits, adversaries, and scenarios that keep the game fresh.

Lacks true online multiplayer functionality, relying on Steam Remote Play which can be clunky.
Some players find the graphics and interface to be lacking in polish and clarity.
Currently missing expansions like Branch & Claw and Jagged Earth, limiting the variety of gameplay.

gameplay
67 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Spirit Island is characterized by its deep strategic mechanics and asymmetrical gameplay, where players control unique spirits with distinct powers to defend against invaders. The game offers a challenging puzzle-like experience, enhanced by a variety of scenarios and a dynamic fear mechanic, though some players note variability in the effectiveness of fear cards. Overall, the digital adaptation maintains the complexity and thematic richness of the original board game, providing a smooth and engaging experience for both solo and cooperative play.
- “Spirit is a great example of a heavy strategy co-op game; with player characters that feel wildly different, an enemy that feels organic and alive, and lots of emergent variety in the middle of gameplay that makes even the same scenario feel different each time.”
- “The mechanics are of moderate complexity, but the game really shines with the sheer tactical depth available.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it is fascinating, addictive, thinky, and deeply satisfying.”
- “Very buggy gameplay.”
- “Excellent 'crunchy' board game which had quite a few administrative tasks to manage as a result of the variety of token and card-based game mechanics (somewhat of a hassle to set up, manage during play, and clean up).”
- “If then else cold legalistic gameplay driven by needlessly convoluted cards, effects frequently changed by a spirit or adversary or scenario's special rules that are not immediately at hand.”
replayability
45 mentions
53 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse spirits, adversaries, and scenarios, allowing for nearly infinite combinations and strategic depth. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and variability, making each session feel unique and engaging, whether played solo or cooperatively. Expansions further enhance this replay value, ensuring that the game remains fresh and enjoyable over countless playthroughs.
- “Lots of replayability with different spirits at different counts, adversaries, and scenarios.”
- “The game has a lot of replay value due to the variety of spirit and scenario combinations.”
- “The current edition of the game (1.0, at the time of this review) only includes the base game; while there's plenty of replay value to be found here, the lack of features from the Branch & Claw expansion (events, new tokens for the game board, etc.) leaves a pretty large hole.”
- “With the amount of different spirits, adversaries, and scenarios, replayability is sheer endless; every game is completely different, even with the same setup.”
- “The difficulty scales to exactly the level you want it to remain challenging (though even the base level may be hard for new players), and there is so much replay value in mixing up different spirits with asymmetric abilities, different colonial adversaries with different behaviors, and different scenarios which tweak the rules.”
graphics
35 mentions
31 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the functional and authentic artwork that complements the board game experience, while others criticize the 3D visuals as unattractive and in need of significant improvement. The user interface is often described as confusing, detracting from the overall experience, although the game is praised for its strategic depth and smooth gameplay. Overall, while the graphics may not be visually stunning, they serve their purpose in supporting the gameplay, which remains the main highlight.
- “Fantastic strategy board game, evocative artwork and theme.”
- “The spirit island digital app is a fantastic adaptation, seamlessly bringing the beloved board game to life with beautiful visuals, intuitive gameplay, and endless replay value.”
- “The sound is delightful, the artwork authentic, the graphics supplementing this fit very well with the original, and the maps and tokens and pieces all feel original.”
- “The graphics in the game are seriously ugly and need a complete overhaul to be digital friendly.”
- “My primary negatives would come from the graphics of the board, especially the 3D board (it looks pretty bad in my opinion).”
- “Great port of board game, graphics could use some work to make pieces more distinct.”
music
24 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, effectively complementing the gameplay and atmosphere. However, some players find it repetitive over time and occasionally annoying, leading them to turn it off. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience for many, opinions vary on its originality and impact compared to other works by the same composer.
- “The music is subtle but great and fits the tone; the sound effects are tailored to the different spirits and elevate the game for me.”
- “Besides being faithful to the board game, the music and sounds really go well with the experience.”
- “Everything about this digital version is worth the money... the music, sound effects, interface, ease of access.”
- “The only advantages this version has are the music (which, while serviceable, is uninspiring compared to some other works by the same musician) and the setup speed.”
- “The graphics are fine, the music annoying, and the interface a bit tedious.”
- “I also found the music to be annoying and turned it off.”
grinding
13 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the automation of tedious processes in the game, which significantly reduces the time and effort required for setup, scorekeeping, and invader movements compared to the physical version. While some still find the decision-making aspect to be complex and occasionally tedious, the streamlined interface allows for a more focused strategic experience. The game is praised for being a faithful and superior adaptation of the tabletop original, making it more enjoyable for solo play.
- “All in all, playing the game was a tedious affair, even with the computer doing all of the automated invader movements that you'd have to do by hand with a physical copy.”
- “My only complaint is that it is significantly harder and more time-consuming than the physical game due to having to think very carefully about the order of actions; while there is an undo button, it can be tedious when you have a difficult turn and you have to retake many actions over and over while you tweak something from 20 decisions ago several different times.”
- “The graphics are fine, the music annoying, and the interface a bit tedious.”
stability
13 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users reporting numerous bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode, which significantly hampers the gameplay experience. Many players find the interface unintuitive and frustrating, leading to a recommendation to approach the game with caution due to its instability. However, a few users noted that early access versions have been relatively bug-free, suggesting some variability in user experiences.
- “For an early release, it seems polished and bug-free.”
- “Early access has been bug-free for me so far.”
- “Great base game, but multiplayer is beyond buggy; it really needs quality assurance, especially with regards to the undo function.”
- “Unfortunately, I found the process of actually playing with even one other player to be frustrating, poorly conceived, and outright buggy.”
- “Buy at your own risk - this is extremely buggy and unplayable.”
story
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, with some players noting a lack of narrative in its co-op, strategy format, while others highlight the thematic elements tied to the spirits' mission of protecting the land from invaders. Overall, the story is either seen as non-essential or as a backdrop to the gameplay mechanics.
- “This is a difficult game, and the mechanics of the spirit powers are very different, reflecting the spirits' stories if you read them.”
- “A story all games can be inspired by.”
- “✅ this game has no story (co-op, strategy board game with no backstory in mind/not needed)”
- “🔲 0 (no story)”
- “It is your mission as the spirits to keep the land pristine and drive the unwanted invaders from your shores!”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its deep and immersive qualities, enhanced by a great soundtrack and delightful sound and animation. However, some users note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, it is regarded as one of the best in its genre, combining elements from various acclaimed games.
- “The deepness and atmosphere is more than enough.”
- “The sound and animation are delightfully atmospheric.”
- “It is the best board game ever made; it's as deep as Mage Knight, has an atmosphere like Robinson Crusoe, and is as cool as Mage Wars, yet as perfect as Commands and Colors: Ancients.”
- “While the soundtrack is great at creating an idyllic atmosphere, it does get very repetitive after a while.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and lack of bugs, allowing players to focus solely on gameplay. However, the optimization for multiple spirits results in underutilized screen space, suggesting that the interface could be improved for the more common single-spirit gameplay.
- “I have experienced 0 bugs, and the game runs smoothly enough that I don't need to think about running the game, only playing it.”
- “This optimization means that there is a lot of unutilized screen real estate that could be used for making the interface easier to use during the most common game; one spirit per player.”
- “It seems to have been optimized for one player to play upwards of four spirits, which I can't imagine happens very often.”
- “This optimization means that there is a lot of unutilized screen real estate that could instead be used for making the interface easier to use, particularly for making your one spirit easier to see during the most common game scenario: one spirit per player.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for incorporating intrusive in-game advertising and lacking multiplayer options, leading some users to perceive the game as a cash grab rather than a fully realized experience.
- “Until then, it feels more like a cash grab using such a great game this way.”
- “But it has bugs, in-game advertising, an annoyingly cluttered main menu, and -worst of all- no multiplayer.”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be subtle and clever, with players expressing a strong desire to experience it, indicating that it resonates well with them.
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment over the loss of tactile and visual elements that contributed to the emotional engagement of the game, such as the physical interaction with components and the appreciation of card art. This absence diminishes the overall emotional connection players feel during gameplay.