Forbidden Island Cooperative Board Game (Gamewright)
✓ Product data checked October 30, 2026
In Forbidden Island, players are adventurers who must recover four treasures (the Earth Stone, the Statue of the Wind, the Crystal of Fire and the Ocean's Chalice) and fly off the island together while its tiles flood and sink. Each player has a special role, and the water rises faster as the game goes on. Gamewright's box is for 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, in about 30 minutes, and comes in a tin. Rated 4.8 across 10,500+ reviews on Amazon US, at about $21.
Why it makes a good gift
Best for : A family with older kids, or a couple new to cooperative games.
Best occasion : Christmas, a birthday.
Why it works : It is the gentlest way into cooperative games: short, tense and cheap, with roles that make every player useful, so a group wins or loses as one.
Avoid if : They already own Pandemic or Forbidden Desert, which play in a similar way.
For
Him, Her, Couples, Friend
Budget
$$ — Affordable
Frequently asked questions
How many players?
2 to 4.
How long is a game?
About 30 minutes.
Can you adjust the difficulty?
Yes, the water level starts higher for harder games.
