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The Isle of Cats: Kittens & Beasts
The Isle of Cats Kittens + Beasts is an expansion for The Isle of the Cats, adding 1 new lesson module and 3 new expansion modules to the game: Kittens, Beasts, and Events.
This box does not include a copy of The Isle of Cats
Expansion Modules:
★ Kittens: Focus on speed to rescue kittens as well as cats.
★ Beasts: Build friendships between your cat families and ancient beasts.
★ Events: Find new ways to score points as the rules of the game change around you.
Box Contents:
• 25 beast figures (5 of each type)
• 18 wooden rats
• 20 unique kitten tiles (4 of each color)
• 18 unique beast tiles
• 15 unique event tiles
• 1 lesson module (8 lesson cards)
• 7 family cards
• 3 bags (1 beast, 1 event, and 1 kitten)
• 10 semi-permanent tokens
• 64 point tokens (32 x 1 point, 32 x 5 point)
• 2 rulebooks (standard and family)
• 1 scorepad
Part of the The Isle of Cats family — see The Isle of Cats for the combined view.
- Kittens provide more options and can fill gaps in needed colors.
- Kittens offer more bang for your buck and are more strategic at the end of the game.
- Beasts offer a new goal and a kickstarting point for the game.
- Beasts are visually appealing.
- The modular nature of the expansions allows for customization of gameplay.
- The expansions add new elements without overcomplicating the core game.
- The expansions are well-integrated and flow with the base game.
- Only the fastest player has the option to use kittens.
- Beasts only come out in the first round and can be difficult to place.
- The beast module does not significantly change the game beyond the first round.
- Beasts can be difficult to score points from if not properly assigned to families.
- Focusing on beasts or kittens might lead to neglecting other scoring opportunities like rats and rooms.
- The events module is more complicated than the other modules.
- Isle of Cats
- Prelude
- Terraforming Mars
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Fill — Kittens fill out the map just as much as a regular cat does, and players need to place beasts strategically to allow them to grow.
- Set Collection — The beasts require assignment with a family and certain color combinations, and lessons can be based on collecting specific numbers of cats.
- tile drafting — The kittens add a new play into what you're drafting, and the beasts offer a kickstarting point.
- Variable player powers — The different boats players have can influence strategy, though it's debatable how much it impacts the game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's not essential but worthwhile
- great modular expansion really
- isle of cats itself is still a 10 out of 10.
- it takes so many different mechanics meshes them together and it all fits like it flows so well without being without being stupid complex