Spirit Island: Jagged Earth Expansion Review | The Ultimate Cooperative Board Game Gets Even Better
Spirit Island's major expansion, Jagged Earth, is one of the best expansions ever made for a cooperative board game.
"This expansion provides the most astonishing gaming experience I've ever had, where you're left thinking, 'What on earth did they do?'"
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the ultimate expansion experience that players who love the base game are looking for next, based on real sources and player feedback.
Game Basics
Jagged Earth is a deeper, more strategic expansion to the base game, Spirit Island.
Jagged Earth is a cooperative board game expansion for 1-6 players, 90-120 minutes of playtime, and ages 13+.
It was designed by R. Eric Reuss and requires the base game Spirit Island.
The core mechanics remain the same as the base game, with players taking on the role of island spirits working together to repel invaders.
However, the new Spirits are portrayed as tougher beings, hardened by battle and having learned through years of fighting that there is no room for passivity or compromise, providing a more complex and strategic gaming experience.
The appeal of Jagged Earth: the overwhelming amount of content
This expansion significantly expands the appeal of the base game with a wealth of content and new features.
10 unique new spirits
The biggest attraction of this expansion is the addition of eight new spirits (actually ten).
As evidenced by the review, "The 10 new spirits alone were reason enough for me to buy Jagged Earth," each one has their own unique playstyle.
Featured spirit examples:
- Finder of Paths Unseen : Has the ability to move Invaders, Dahans, Beasts, and Presences around the board, and pairs well with powerful offensive Spirits.
- Many Minds Move As One : A defensive specialist that utilizes Beast tokens to induce fear in invader-occupied areas, allowing the team to skip invader actions.
- Starlight Seeks Its Form : The most advanced spirit, its fluid nature allows it to adapt to almost any playstyle imaginable.
New mechanics that expand the range of strategies
A new element called Badland Tokens has been added, greatly expanding strategic options.
"Badlands: This token increases damage dealt to both Invaders and Dahan by 1."
New tactical elements have been introduced, such as the ability to isolate and prevent exploration of land, and "Open the Ways" which creates new adjacencies between land and dramatically improves cooperation with range-limited partner spirits.
Plenty of additional content
Includes over 50 new major and minor power cards, over 30 new event cards, new fear and blight cards, two new adversaries, and a new scenario.
"Jagged Earth is one of the most generous board game expansions I've come across."
Concerns and solutions
It's an exciting expansion, but there are some things to be aware of. Taking the right precautions will make it even more enjoyable.
Increasing complexity
The most notable aspect is the significant increase in complexity.
It has been pointed out that "if the base game, Spirit Island, already feels like a stretch in terms of complexity, Jagged Earth could be overwhelming."
Solution: "Jagged Earth increases the game's complexity, but allows for a gradual introduction of changes. New components and spirits are marked with specific icons indicating their level of complexity," allowing you to gradually introduce new elements starting with the elements you're familiar with.
Extended play time
"Even we noticed that the added complexity of Jagged Earth increased the average play time (from roughly a two-hour game to around two and a half hours)," they said.
Solution: Take your time and play carefully until you get used to the new features, and gradually reduce your playing time as you gain experience.
Relationship with Branch and Claw
Some have pointed out that "Jagged Earth's biggest flaw is the absence of Branch and Claw. Without them, it feels incomplete and compromised."
Solution: If possible, also install the Branch and Claw expansion to get the full game experience.
Recommended for these people and occasions
We will introduce what types of players and scenes it is best suited for.
The ideal player
- Spirit Island veteran : "If you're a fan of the base game and don't mind the added depth and complexity, Spirit Island: Jagged Earth should be at the top of your wishlist."
- Cooperative game enthusiasts : Advanced players who enjoy devising complex strategies together with their friends
- Those who prioritize replayability : People who want a wealth of variability (spirits, scenarios, events, setup selection, adversaries) that will keep them from getting bored even after repeated playthroughs.
Recommended play scenes
- Highlights for gaming parties : Supports up to six players, allowing for a cooperative gaming experience with a large group of people
- Long-term project : "The base game, Spirit Island, contains a few dozen plays worth of content, but combined with Jagged Earth, Spirit Island can reach triple-digit playthroughs before it starts to get stale."
- Solo play : It has been praised for its "great solo value," making it ideal for situations where you want to carefully plan your strategy by yourself.
Spirit Island: Jagged Earth is a new milestone in cooperative board games, receiving the highest praise: "OUI OUI OUI: I LOVE THIS GAME. I MUST HAVE THIS GAME."
This is a masterpiece expansion that we can confidently recommend to all players who want more depth and strategy while maintaining the charm of the basic game.
Why not become the spirit of the island and take on the ultimate cooperative experience?
Check the product on the online store page
Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.
Reference source/quote source
- Philibert - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth
- Greater Than Games - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth
- Planszostrefa - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth expansion
- Uplay.it - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth
- Apple Podcasts - Spirit Island Jagged Earth Review
- That's What Jenni Said - Spirit Island Jagged Earth Preview
- The Dice Tower - Spirit Island Jagged Earth Review
- Way Too Many Games - Spirit Island Digital Edition Review
- Gideon's Gaming - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth Expansion Review
- Board Game Shots - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth Review
- Game Night with the Saints - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth Expansion Review
- Spirit Island Wiki - Jagged Earth
- Board Game News - Spirit Island: Jagged Earth