The Isle of Cats
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 8+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.4 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
The Isle of Cats sends players racing to rescue as many stray cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives. You draft tiles representing unique cats and fit them together like a puzzle aboard your rescue boat, keeping cat families together for bonus points. Along the way you can collect treasures, befriend a wise old cat, and learn one of 38 unique lessons that each open a new personal scoring path. It's a charming, medium-weight polyomino and set-collection game wrapped in adorable cat artwork.
Hobbli's Notes
This is one of the most satisfying tile-fitting puzzles on the market, and the cat theme gives it broad appeal beyond typical Euro fans. The drafting phase adds just enough tension without becoming cutthroat. It shines equally well solo or with a full table of four.
What we like
- Charming cat-themed art and high-quality components draw players in immediately.
- The polyomino tile-fitting puzzle is genuinely satisfying to solve.
- Scales smoothly from solo play up to four players.
- Numerous lesson cards give each game a different scoring strategy.
- Drafting cards adds meaningful tension without heavy conflict.
Keep in mind
- Downtime can build slightly as player count increases.
- Tracking lesson bonuses and scoring can feel fiddly for new players.
- The luck of the card draw can limit long-term planning.
Who it's for
Great for families and puzzle-loving gamers ages 8 and up, playing solo or in groups of up to four who enjoy light-to-medium strategy with a cozy theme.
