In the most remote corners of the world, magic still exists, embodied by the spirits of the land, the sky, and nature. As the great European powers expand their colonial empires further and further, they will inevitably lay claim to a place where spirits still hold power—and when they do, the land itself will fight back alongside the natives who live there.
Spirit Island is a complex, thematic cooperative game where the island's elementals defend their home from colonizing invaders. Players embody different spirits of the land, each with their own unique elemental powers. Every turn, players simultaneously choose which power cards to play, paying energy to do so. Using combinations of power cards that match a spirit's elemental affinities can grant free bonus effects. Some powers take effect immediately, before the invaders spread and blight the island, while other magics are slower, requiring planning and foresight to be used effectively.
In the Spirit Phase, spirits gain energy and choose how—or if—to grow: reclaiming used power cards, seeking new powers, or expanding their presence to new areas of the island.
The invaders expand across the island in a predictable manner. Each turn they explore certain parts of the island; on the next turn, they build on those pieces of land, forming settlements and cities. Once they have secured their position, they begin ravaging the territory, bringing blight to the land and attacking any natives present. The islanders, attempting to fight back, provide the spirits with some assistance, but they cannot always meet every expectation. Some powers work through the islanders, helping them drive out the invaders or cleanse the land of blight.
The game escalates as it progresses: spirits expand their presence to new parts of the island and seek new, stronger powers, while the invaders intensify their colonization efforts. Each turn represents 1–3 years of alternative history. At the start of the game, victory requires destroying every last settlement and city on the board—but the more you terrify the invaders, the easier victory becomes: they will flee even if a number of settlements or cities remain. Defeat occurs if any spirit is destroyed, if the island is overrun by blight, or if the invader deck runs out before victory is achieved.
The game includes different adversaries to fight against (e.g., a Swedish Mining Colony or a Remote British Colony). Each variation plays differently and offers a different difficulty curve to enhance the game and keep it challenging relative to your skills.

Awards and Honors:
2024 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Best Expert Game Nominee
2021 Scelto dai Goblin Winner
2021 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection Nominee
2021 Gra Roku Advanced Game of the Year Nominee
2019 Spiel der Spiele Hit für Experten Recommended
2019 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Expert Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Best Cooperative Game Nominee
2017 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee
2017 Cardboard Republic Striker Laurel Nominee
2017 Board Game Quest Awards Game of the Year Nominee
2017 Board Game Quest Awards Best Coop Game Winner
2017 Board Game Quest Awards Best Coop Game Nominee