A Logical Deduction Game with a Green Twist: The Search for Lost Species Board Game Review

The Search for Lost Species is a logical deduction board game that challenges players to use their wits and intuition to find six rare and endangered animal species on an island. Developed by Lautapelit, the game is an app-driven experience that requires players to download the game’s companion app to play. While some gamers may be hesitant about the reliance on a third-party digital component, the app is user-friendly, smooth, and essential to the gameplay experience.

Upon opening the box, players will find a double-sided fold-out game board, a variety of wooden pieces, note sheets, screens, and a boat-shaped tray. The game’s ecological theme is evident in the high-quality materials used and the information sheet explaining the environmentally-friendly sourcing of the materials. The six lost species featured in the game are all real animals on the brink of extinction, making the game an educational and thought-provoking experience.

The game uses a time mechanism to determine turn order, with players moving their pawns forward on the time track based on the actions they take. The player furthest behind gets to take their turn, creating a strategic dilemma between less impactful, faster actions and slower, more useful ones. The two primary actions are searching the island by boat or foot. Searching by boat is faster but limited to coastal hexes and has a minimum search range of four, making the information obtained less useful. Searching by foot allows players to choose a range of hexes and look for empty hexes or select one of the four animal types. The app provides information on the number of animals of that type in the searched hexes.

From the outset, players are given additional information to narrow down the location of each animal. Each animal has fixed rules about where it lives, and the app offers additional rules about animal locations that vary between games. Players can visit towns to spend town tokens and take a card from a face-up selection, which offers bonus points or improves one of the game’s actions. The research cards provide valuable clues about the animal’s location.

The game’s stressful yet exciting nature comes from the potential consequences of making a mistake. One incorrect identification of an animal can lead to a chain reaction of errors, making it essential to carefully consider each move and piece together the clues. The order in which players choose to pick up research or search for species can significantly impact the game’s outcome.

Every so often, all player pawns will reach the expedition leader pawn on the time track. When this happens, players can place sighting tokens, indicating hexes where they believe particular animals live. These sightings can be checked several turns later, providing valuable points and clues about the makeup of the island. Incorrect sightings not only lose out on points but also result in a penalty on the time track. The leader can also result in players regaining their town tokens or camera trap tokens, allowing them to make another visit or pinpoint the animal that lives in a particular hex. Finally, on two occasions, the leader will result in all players receiving the same research information about the lost species, providing a valuable opportunity to collaborate and pool resources.

The Search for Lost Species is a logical deduction game that offers a unique and engaging experience. The app-driven gameplay, high-quality components, and ecological theme make it a standout title in the genre. The game’s emphasis on strategic decision-making, careful planning, and collaboration make it an excellent choice for players looking for a challenging and thought-provoking board game experience.

In conclusion, The Search for Lost Species is a must-try for board game enthusiasts and anyone interested in the natural world. Its logical deduction mechanics, beautiful components, and educational focus make it a game that is not only fun to play but also a valuable learning experience. The game’s reliance on the app may be a turn-off for some, but the smooth and user-friendly app is essential to the gameplay experience and adds an exciting layer of interaction to the game. With its unique gameplay mechanics, beautiful components, and educational focus, The Search for Lost Species is a game that is sure to leave a lasting impression.