Spirit Island

In the far corners of the world, magic still thrums through the land, sky, and sea — and the spirits of nature are awake. When European colonizers arrive to claim these shores, the island itself fights back, and you are one of its elemental spirits, each with unique powers and a distinct playstyle. This is a deep, thematic co-operative game where you and your fellow spirits must defend your home and the native islanders from the relentless Invaders.

Each turn, you simultaneously choose which power cards to play, spending energy to activate them. By matching a spirit's elemental affinities with your chosen cards, you unlock free bonus effects — a key to victory. Powers come in two speeds: fast powers take effect immediately, before the Invaders act, while slow powers require foresight, resolving later. During the Spirit phase, you gain energy and decide how to Grow: reclaim used cards, seek new powers, or spread your presence across the island.

The Invaders move in a semi-predictable cycle: they Explore into new lands, then Build towns and cities there, and finally Ravage — bringing blight and attacking islanders. The islanders fight back when attacked and can aid you, but their help isn't always reliable. Some of your powers work through them, helping drive out Invaders or cleanse blight.

As the game escalates, you gain new, stronger powers and spread your presence, while the Invaders ramp up their colonization. Each turn represents 1-3 years of alternate history. Victory starts by destroying every Invader piece — but as you frighten them, the win condition loosens: they'll flee even if some remain. Defeat comes if any spirit is destroyed, the island is overrun by blight, or the Invader deck runs out before you win. Different adversaries (like a Swedish Mining Colony or a Remote British Colony) change the challenge and offer scalable difficulty, keeping the game fresh as you master its depths.