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Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is tempo against rising water. Experts shore up treasure tile lanes before collecting and specialize one runner per treasure.

Quick winning principles

  • Shore up treasure tiles before they flood, not after.
  • Navigator moves two players—use for treasure runs.
  • Diver can swim through flooded tiles—shortcuts critical paths.
  • Don't collect treasure until all 4 tiles are shored up.

Ideal strategy

  1. 1

    Flood rate management: at water level 4+, shore up 2 tiles per turn minimum—collection pauses until flood rate stabilizes.

  2. 2

    Shore-up priority: treasure tiles first, then corners and edges (sink first), then paths between treasures.

  3. 3

    Runner specialization: assign one player per treasure color; Navigator shuttles them to collection points.

  4. 4

    Pilot burst timing: save Pilot fly for emergency shore-up when 3+ treasure tiles flood simultaneously.

  5. 5

    Helicopter escape: move all players to Fool's Landing 2 turns before deck empty—waiting 1 turn risks sink.