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Game Info
Year
2024
Collection
Your Tier
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Expansions & Family
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Description
In The Isle of Cats Duel — a competitive, standalone game designed specifically for two players — you are citizens of Squalls End on a rescue mission to the Isle of Cats and must save 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.
The Isle of Cats Duel replaces the card drafting from the original The Isle of Cats game with a new movement system. Guided by an Oshax cat, players take turns moving around the island. Where you move determines which cats, treasures, and lessons you can access and will shape the options available to your opponent on their next turn.
In the end, the player who best balances rescuing cats, completing lessons, and limiting their opponent's options will prove themselves as the ultimate cat rescuer.
—description from the publisher
The City of Kings Family
(4 games)
Part of the The City of Kings family — see The City of Kings for the combined view.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 7
This page: 7
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–7 of 7
Video zaM5kZPoPlg
Grant Lyon Top List at 12:51 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92852 · mention_pk 249707
Click to watch at 12:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- distills the experience, making it simpler and easier to jump into
- retains the fun polyomino puzzling
- simplified tile/card acquisition process compared to the original
Cons
- original game's mechanics for acquiring tiles/cards might have been overly complex
Thematic elements
- rescuing cats and fitting them into a ship
- on a ship
Comparison games
- The Isle of Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting (Simplified) — Players move a cat meeple around a board to collect tiles and cards, which provide benefits and resources.
- Pattern Building — Players aim to create families of same-colored cats for points, fill rooms, and cover rats.
- polyomino placement — Players place oddly shaped cat tiles onto their ship board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- One of the biggest trends in the board game hobby over the last few years has been dual versions of board games.
- A two-player version of a game is often times easier to get to the table, you know, when you only have one other person you can you can get it played more often and sometimes these dual versions kind of distill a game down and make it a quicker experience as well and I like that too.
References (from this video)
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Video vXhVVGkPudU
kovray Review at 4:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85544 · mention_pk 219459
Click to watch at 4:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Adds a head-to-head dynamic and strong spatial drafting element
- Elevates the game for two players and is quick to teach
Cons
- Base Isle of Cats is large and less convenient for crowds
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Isle of Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- spatial_draft — spatial drafting with drafting and tile placement in a head-to-head format
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This was just an attempt to slam an IP onto a game.
- Hit me hit you with a spicy question.
- Duel. Duel.
- Three, two, one. Duel. Duel.
- Now, if you love Lord of the Rings...
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BT21yApmm-Y
Review at 2:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69471 · mention_pk 165988
Click to watch at 2:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Faster and more streamlined than the original Isle of Cats.
- Easier setup for a two-player game.
- Preferred over other Isle of Cats versions for two players.
- Easy to take out and play quickly.
- The dual treatment in a streamlined two-player game is loved.
Cons
- Less control compared to the main Isle of Cats.
- Can be spatially challenging to place cats effectively.
- The original Isle of Cats card play and draft are missed by one player.
Thematic elements
- Cats
Comparison games
- Isle of Cats
- Race to the Raft
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Covering rooms on the player board is important, as incomplete rooms result in negative points.
- Drafting (Absence of) — Instead of drafting cards, players take either a cat or a card on their turn, which speeds up the game.
- grid placement — Cats are placed on a grid, and players need to cover rats, maps, and fill rooms for end-game bonuses.
- Movement — Players move a cat token across the board to decide which cats and cards are available, with two mandatory movements per turn.
- Resource Management — Players manage fish, which can be used for extra movement, special actions like taking treasures, or extra deliveries.
- Secret Scoring Objectives — Players have lesson cards that provide points based on specific conditions like having exact numbers of certain colored cats or treasures.
- Set Collection — Collecting sets of same-colored cats touching each other for bonuses, and specific numbers of cats of certain colors for scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We have some very cool promos all for $35.
- My favorite one is the Blushing Emily. if you would.
- This is This was designed for two players.
- The aisle of cats duel actually has a little thing in the rule book where it says like, 'Hey, are you worried about the cats that don't survive? Go play race to the raft because which I loved.'
- When you take out the draft, it does speed the game up quite a quite a lot.
- I tried really hard. I will never be good at this game.
- But I do play a lot of games of two players. Yeah. And I would not want to dig it out and I would not want to open that big box and get out all those components and set up that giant game.
References (from this video)
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Video xoi2ICwtX1w
Review at 1:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69439 · mention_pk 165929
Click to watch at 1:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Specifically for two players
- Liked the drafting mechanism
- Smooth gameplay
- Continuous action, never leaving the action
- Refreshing and satisfying
- Quick setup and play
- Still get to have all the same fun but in a so much faster setup
Cons
- Departure from the original's fish purchasing mechanic (uses fish for abilities instead)
Thematic elements
- Drafting cats and treasures to place onto a ship board
Comparison games
- The Isle of Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource Management (Fish) — Fish tokens are earned and spent to perform special actions, like moving further or taking multiple items.
- Set Collection — Players aim to group same-colored cats and collect treasures.
- Spatial Puzzle — Players place drafted tiles onto their personal ship boards, filling gaps and fulfilling scoring conditions.
- tile drafting — Players draft cat tiles and other items by moving a central cat figure on a board.
- Variable Player Powers (Ships) — Double-sided ship boards offer different starting configurations, providing variety.
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 Bb1QgFyGFVo
kovray Top 5 List at 8:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 68965 · mention_pk 224261
Click to watch at 8:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight two-player package
- interesting spatial drafting
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- cat-themed drafting and competition
Comparison games
- Isle of Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cat placement — placing cats to score and block opponent
- spatial drafting — board-based drafting with spatial decisions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's chaotic there's definitely some Randomness to it but definitely there is some planning and mitigation you can do to do the best that you can do it's so much fun
- it's solitaire but you also have to be aware of what everybody else is doing
- the table Pres is gorgeous the way the board really rolls out is fantastic
- Isle of cats duel is on there
- I really like the deck building aspect of it and like creating the uniqueness that your characters can become so that that was really fun
- I can't wait to play it again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video p9uDIu1czW8
Review at 0:16 sentiment: negative
video_pk 67055 · mention_pk 163047
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- It's easier to set up than the base Isle of Cats.
- The polyomino system is the exact same as the base game.
Cons
- The drafting element is missing.
- The movement of the Oshax is not interesting.
- It felt insanely easy to fill out the boat.
- The choices weren't ever interesting.
- It's a watered down version of the base game.
- Lacks variety compared to the base game.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Isle of Cats
- Emberleaf
- Splendor Duel
- Azul Duel
- Seven Wonders Duel
- Flamecraft Duel
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting — The reviewer states that the drafting element from the base game is missing in Isle of Cats Duel, which they consider a significant omission.
- Movement — The reviewer discusses the movement of the Oshax on the central board and the choices involved in picking up cats or cards.
- Polyomino — The reviewer notes that the polyomino aspect is the same as the base game, where players grab cats and place them into their boat.
- Resource Management — The reviewer mentions the fish mechanic, which is used for special abilities in Isle of Cats Duel, such as moving extra spaces or taking specific treasures.
- Set Collection — The reviewer mentions scoring based on sets of blue or purple cats, such as 'two points for every blue or purple cat on your boat, whichever you have fewer of'.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is kind of a pseudo Isisle of Cats re-review as well as talking about Isle of Cats Duel.
- Giving Isle or giving this a five or whatever. gave it an aisle of cats uh a 10 is is some certainly like a take or something.
- So, after replaying it, you know, to see if it really was a 10. Spoiler, it's not, but it's still a really good game.
- I am so disappointed to say that I don't really care for this version.
- The dual craze that is happening where people are designing larger player count games specifically for two and obviously they use the duel because of Seven Wonders Duel.
- I feel like it's just watered down version.
- So, yeah, the Polyomino system is the exact same. You have your cats that you that you will eventually grab and you will place them into your uh into your boat.
- I feel like some people might really like this, but I just found the movement to be uninteresting.
- So on a scale of one to 10, I mean, it's serviceable. I'm probably just gonna give it a five.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HJtIC85_T-Q
The Broken Meeple Review at 1:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9084 · mention_pk 124644
Click to watch at 1:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- compact, lighter variant compared to Isle of Cats
- two-player friendly with quick play sessions
- rules are easy to learn and well-illustrated in the rulebook
- retains core puzzle feel and familiar aesthetics from the big game
Cons
- two-player only; no solo or larger group options
- no drafting phase, which reduces strategic depth
- movement mechanic lacks strong interaction to block opponents
Thematic elements
- cat-themed puzzle-filling on a boat with family formation and scoring via lesson cards
- an island where cats live and players try to assemble cat families while avoiding rats
- whimsical and light-hearted
Comparison games
- Isle of Cats (base game)
- Isle of Cats Flip and Write
- Isle of Cats (Big Version)
- Seven Wonders Duel
- Tokaido
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card selection / action economy — players choose from available tiles or cards each round to gain powers, tiles, or scoring opportunities
- movement across a shared board — a cat token moves up to two spaces per turn, enabling tile/card acquisition from start, pass-through, or end points
- Resource Management — fish are spent to gain extra actions or progress, with limited availability shaping choices
- resource management (fish tokens) — fish are spent to gain extra actions or progress, with limited availability shaping choices
- set collection / scoring — points are earned for large cat families and for completing room goals on the board
- Tile Placement — polyomino-like cat tiles are placed on the boat to form families and satisfy rooms
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Isle of Cats Duel gets a fine seven out of 10.
- it's quick simple and has that same Tetris feel
- the main difference is how you select the tiles
- this is a pretty solid in the whole jeel universe
- you don't draft the cards anymore
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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