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Game Info
Year
2019
Players
1-6
Age
8+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Expansions & Family
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
The Isle of Cats is a competitive, medium-weight, card-drafting, polyomino cat-placement board game for 1-4 players (6 with expansions).
In the game, you are citizens of Squalls End on a rescue mission to The Isle of Cats and must rescue as many cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives. Each cat is represented by a unique tile and belongs to a family, you must find a way to make them all fit on your boat while keeping families together. You will also need to manage resources as you:
Explore the island (by drafting cards)
Rescue cats
Find treasures
Befriend Oshax
Study ancient lessons
Each lesson you collect gives you another personal way of scoring points, and 38 unique lessons are available. Complete lessons, fill your boat, and keep cat families together to score points, and the player with the most points after five rounds wins.
Note: The Isle of Cats: Kickstarter Edition is a compilation item consisting of The Isle of Cats base game and The Isle of Cats: Kickstarter Pack, each of which are available as separate items and listed individually in the BGG database.
The Isle of Cats Family
(2 games)
This page includes videos and mentions from the whole The Isle of Cats family. Drill into a specific game below.
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Featured Videos
Rules Teach
Learn to Play: The Isle of Cats
Playthrough
The Isle of Cats - Playthrough & Review
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 16
This page: 16
Sentiment:
pos 10 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–16 of 16
Video dyi6OBy828U
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 4:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90797 · mention_pk 242984
Click to watch at 4:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Revelation for the host
- Incredibly compelling
- Good for families
- Good for puzzle lovers
Cons
- Total nonsense idea initially
Thematic elements
- stacking cats onto a boat
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Polyomino — I've not played many polynomial games before and Isle of Cats was a real revelation to me this year.
- Puzzle solving — A really good one for families and a really good one for people who like solving puzzles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TbBN3M28zcU
Allies or Enemies Top List at 5:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90136 · mention_pk 240456
Click to watch at 5:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Favorite tile placement game
- Adds an extra layer with card drafting
- Cats and boats look awesome
- Great theme
- Adaptable gameplay
- Good for getting a big family with lots of points
- Great to have local game designers
Cons
- Limited cats coming out each turn can be a challenge
Thematic elements
- Saving cats from a pirate
- An island
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — It also has the card drafting and the car drafting does so much because it's like it's getting you cats it's getting you fish to feed cats it's getting you basically points for the end of the game.
- Set Collection — Collecting cats of specific colors and arranging them.
- Tile Placement — Tile placement is one of my absolute favorite mechanisms of anything and this is one of my favorite tile placement games.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's kind of this is really a snapshot of our favorite games as of like august 10th or something
- the selling point is the huge board of actions there's 60 some actions in this game
- it's interesting because it is a work replacement slash tile placement game and the tile placement part definitely tripped me up at the beginning because this is a game that at the start i i did not did not hook me at all because i just found the so punishing
- it is one you get a lot better the more you play and for me the norwegian expansion made a really big difference for that
- i love a legacy game it's really fun to go through a campaign together and open up new things and this one does it really well
- the board itself by the end of the game you have a two-sided board that we use regularly which again for legacy can be a bit rare sometimes at the end of it you're just kind of done with it but this one we can still keep playing
- and the story again is good like the writing's really short but it's funny
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Pfo71zbCsOw
Nights Around a Table Discussion at 1:07
video_pk 89459 · mention_pk 237583
Click to watch at 1:07 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Cats
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- do you have a grail game do you have a holy grail game
- board gaming is my hobby and my job so most of the games that i really want i just buy
- the thrill is in the hunt am i right
- i have so many unplayed pieces of cardboard in my house
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _U5JnRJ04_4
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 7:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87072 · mention_pk 226990
Click to watch at 7:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Immensely satisfying
- Comes with family-friendly rules
- Two games in the same box
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Cats on a boat
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting — you're trying to draft cats
- Set Collection — placing cats in sets together will score you a lot of points
- Tile Placement — place them on your boat
- variable scoring — you draft scoring cards and can change your own scoring through the course of the game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dKjImceswog
Stonemaier Games Rules Teach at 0:29 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 81232 · mention_pk 200611
Click to watch at 0:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adjacent placement — Each further number must be placed adjacent to a filled box or a marked treasure map.
- number placement — Players can write numbers in boxes or use them to mark treasure maps, with adjacency rules for placement.
- Set collection (pairs) — Pairs of numbers connected to a treasure map of the same value are used to gain stars.
- Treasure map marking — Numbers can be used to mark treasure maps, influencing subsequent placements.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- That's what's important to me.
- I'm purely happy that someone out there enjoyed our games, but the award itself is not important.
- That is probably the greatest compliment that I get to receive on an ongoing basis, or every now and then.
- Doing something in hopes of winning an award definitely not a motivator. I guess it's nice to be recognized, but doing the work for the love of the work is the real motivator.
- We are remaking them. We're not remaking them. We're reprinting them. We're making more.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video aaGgnKUId5w
Meeple University Discussion at 1:24
video_pk 80686 · mention_pk 197309
Click to watch at 1:24 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- After creating some sort of like abomination and then going fishing and then getting such a deep regret and then getting some, you know, burying your personal demon, would you design a game about flowers?
- So, you designed games like The Isle of Cats, Isle of Cat Duel, Isle of Penguins. Have you ever considered a different land mass like peninsula of cats or isthmus of cats?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video aW6zpUNMw_4
Rules Teach at 0:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 79766 · mention_pk 193325
Click to watch at 0:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Thematic elements of rescuing cats and finding treasure.
- Multiple ways to score points through families and treasures.
- Adaptable for family play.
Cons
- Rats depicted score negative points.
- Unfinished rooms score negative points.
Thematic elements
- A rescue mission to save cats and find treasure before an 'evil Veche' destroys the island.
- Squalls End
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft discovery cards, choosing some and passing the rest, with the direction of passing changing on different days.
- Resource Management — Players use fish as a resource to pay for cards and to rescue cats from the island.
- Set Collection — Players aim to create families of cats of the same color to score points and collect treasures.
- Tile Placement — Players place rescued cat tiles on their boat board, with adjacency rules for placement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Isle of Cats this is a 1 to 4 player card drafting tile placement set collection game
- you will take the role of citizens from Squalls End going out in boats on a rescue mission to save cats and find treasure from a nearby island before the evil Veche comes to destroy the island
- Adjacent cats of the same color make families when covering up a matching color map on your boat board you would gain and place a common treasure
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video m0-umcE2lVw
CA Couple Rapid Reviews at 21:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 74123 · mention_pk 178359
Click to watch at 21:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- One of the more favorite polyomino games.
- Lots of variety with different caps and expansions.
- Interesting decision-making based on cards and costs.
- Procedural and layered gameplay without feeling messy.
- Fun theme of saving cats.
Cons
- Can be on the heavier side of polyomino games.
Thematic elements
- Saving cats from an island before 'evil' arrives.
- Island
- Thematic setup of rescuing cats.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft cards to use for actions and tile acquisition.
- Objective Fulfillment — Players commit to goals that add value to the game.
- Resource Management — Using fish to pay for cards.
- Set Collection — Collecting same-colored cats together adds value.
- Tile Placement — Players place polyomino cat tiles onto their ship board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I feel like even though this is a not it's not an old game it's a like the last five four five years it feels like a classic to me
- this is almost some more fun multiplayer Patchwork
- emptying the cooler emptying the cooler
- this is one of the fastest Legacy games I think we finished
- my favorite Parts is you have bullets and when you shoot the Banis they become tombstones
- the mechanics in this game blew me away
- I love seeing the world wonders on the board the they're just so pretty and they're so vibrant
- auction games are not really my thing this is like a nice little like push into the auction space where it is very important to get your stuff but you don't get left in an unfortunate space of not being able to do anything
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZhcIIRu_gj4
Meeple University Review
video_pk 70081 · mention_pk 166980
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's not a heavy game
- it's lighter than i thought
- the drafting is nice
- drives really nice and quick
- i can see why people are hyping about this
- if you like polyamino and drafting then you'll like it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xoi2ICwtX1w
Review at 0:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69439 · mention_pk 165928
Click to watch at 0:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fantastic board game
- Lots of expansions
- Works very similarly to the original, but with big differences
- Liked the drafting mechanism
- Smooth gameplay
- Lots of opportunities to score
- Double-sided ships offer variety
- Enjoyed it and will definitely be playing it
- Quick, refreshing, and satisfying
- Has potential to be as good as Seven Wonders Duel
Cons
- Can get very involved, especially with expansions
- The original game had moments where players couldn't accomplish what they wanted
Thematic elements
- Rescuing cats and treasures by placing them on boats
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set Collection — Players try to group cats of the same colors together on their boats.
- tetris-like placement — Players arrange tiles on their boat boards to fit as many as possible.
- tile drafting — Players draft polyomino style tiles representing cats and treasures to place on their boats.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love cats is a fantastic board game very popular uh lots and lots of expansions to it
- Get this very fast two-player version of is of cats
- I really liked this game
- this is quick it is so quick
- it's refreshing and it's still satisfying
- this just makes this so much faster to the table you still satisfied and you still get to have all the same fun but in a so much faster setup and and play
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vDgxTs6msCE
Top List at 0:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67126 · mention_pk 163105
Click to watch at 0:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I rank five board games, but the only thing is I don't know what game is coming next.
- I enjoy Hero Realms better, but Star Realms is great.
- I'll live to regret it. I don't care. I'm not scared.
- Ooh, I would have loved that as my number one with Res Arcana as number two, but alas, it is a blind ranking.
- Overall, I'm happy with the exception of the top two.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video iVM0L_YEPsE
Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Discussion at 3:33
video_pk 61354 · mention_pk 154026
Click to watch at 3:33 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game is so creative because you get to play kind of each of your favorite games in it.
- the box is organized in such a way that each of the cards are separated by color.
- it's very fun to try and beat the courses and see how many um, attempts it takes you to do it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5QwCok03fhY
The Board Game Garden Top List at 27:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37005 · mention_pk 111061
Click to watch at 27:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rich theme and charming artwork
- Engaging mix of drafting and tile/tile-laying scoring
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- cat rescue and planning a boat full of cats
- island rescue with cats
- family-friendly, theme-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Closed Drafting — Draft cat baskets and other cards to rescue cats and load them onto a boat
- Polyomino — Place cat baskets and tiles to satisfy objectives and maximize scoring
- polyomino placement / tile placement — Place cat baskets and tiles to satisfy objectives and maximize scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Remember, you are somebody's reason to smile.
- I absolutely love this game. It is in my top 100 games of all time.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gNtcy9xuVpA
The Board Game Garden Discussion at 20:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33791 · mention_pk 100534
Click to watch at 20:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- cute theme
- accessible to new players
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- tile/drafting style drafting with cat-themed aesthetics
- cat-themed rooms and neighborhoods
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Pattern Building — arrange tiles for scoring lines
- pattern-building — arrange tiles for scoring lines
- Tile Placement — place tiles to create rooms and score points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is my favorite spot in the house.
- I could honestly do it for hours.
- I absolutely love the island cats, so I had to get that.
- The best purchase I ever made.
- I love solo modes, but I don’t want designers to force them when not a good fit.
- I could spend hours browsing that ginormous wall for hours.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XaQR0ofcO7Y
Foster the Meeple Top List at 12:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9662 · mention_pk 28541
Click to watch at 12:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Iconic cat-theme is deeply integrated into mechanics
- High replayability with multiple expansions and cat variants
- Appealing art and elegant polyomino puzzle
Cons
- Rulebook can be intimidating for newcomers
- Can scale longer on larger player counts
Thematic elements
- cats and kittens aboard a boat, with treasure and rat-avoidance scoring
- A boat-island voyage focused on saving cats by covering sections with polyomino cat tiles.
- cooperative but competitive tile-laying with a strong cat identity
Comparison games
- Calico
- The Isle of Cats: Cats & Beasts expansion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Draft cards to acquire cat tiles and scoring opportunities, balancing threat and reward.
- polyomino tiling — Players place cat-shaped polyomino tiles on a boat board to cover spaces and maximize scoring opportunities.
- set collection / treasure scoring — Treasure tiles award points and influence placement decisions, with rat-coverage affecting points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is an essential cat game.
- This is a cat game because cats and kittens boop on beds.
- Calico is an extreme puzzle brain burn kind of game.
- You are making quilts to appease the cats.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DlxhOx70p-I
Before You Play Playthrough
video_pk 3931 · mention_pk 166635
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a mash-up of mechanics from a bunch of games
- it's a light family weight game
- three is the sweet spot
- Patchwork meets Bärenpark
- highly recommend all ages
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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