The Isle of Cats Duel
In The Isle of Cats Duel — a competitive, standalone game designed specifically for two players — you are citizens of Squalls End on a rescue mission to the Isle of Cats and must save as many cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives. Each cat is represented by a unique tile and belongs to a family; you must find a way to make them all fit on your boat while keeping families together.
The Isle of Cats Duel replaces the card drafting from the original The Isle of Cats game with a new movement system. Guided by an Oshax cat, players take turns moving around the island. Where you move determines which cats, treasures, and lessons you can access and will shape the options available to your opponent on their next turn.
In the end, the player who best balances rescuing cats, completing lessons, and limiting their opponent's options will prove themselves as the ultimate cat rescuer.
Number of players: 2
Game duration: 48 mn
Complexity: 2 / 5
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Play The Isle of Cats Duel and 1250 other games online.
No download necessary - play directly from your web browser.
With your friends and thousands of players from the whole world.
Free.
Rules summary
Game Overview
Hoping to rescue the legendary cats of the island before the arrival of the sinister Vesh, you navigate your boats to the shore. You must bring as many cats as possible on board, group them into families, and learn valuable lessons to optimize your boat's layout. This is achieved through clever resource management and tile-placement puzzles on your personal boat board.
Goal of the Game
Collect the most points by rescuing cat families, completing lessons, and gathering treasures, while avoiding penalties for rats and empty rooms.
Gameplay
The game is played over several rounds. During your turn, you use your resources to load the boat:
A Player's Turn
Choose one of the available actions on your board:
- Rescue Cats: Lure a cat from the island to your boat. Pay the cost in fish and place the tile.
- Take Lessons: Collect a lesson card that grants specific bonus points at the end of the game for certain formations or collections.
- Find Treasures: Locate treasures to fill small gaps or cover rats.
Board Placement Rules
- The first tile may be placed anywhere on the boat.
- Every subsequent tile must be placed directly adjacent to an already placed tile (sharing a side; diagonal does not count).
- Cat Families: Connect cats of the same color. A group of at least 3 directly adjacent cats forms a valuable family.
Special Rules
- The Oshax: These rare white cats are highly adaptable. When they board your boat, you choose a color for them, which they permanently keep as a wild for that family.
- Rat Infestation: Every visible rat on your deck disturbs the cats and results in a 1 point penalty at the end.
- Filling Rooms: The boat is divided into sections called rooms. Only a room completely covered by tiles avoids the penalty for "incomplete areas."
End of Game & Scoring
The game ends when the island is empty or no more moves are possible.
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Cat Families | Points based on the number of cats per color (starting at 3 cats). |
| Completed Lessons | Points according to the conditions on your cards. |
| Rats & Empty Rooms | -1 per rat; -5 per incomplete room. |
Tie-breaker
In the event of a tie, the player with the most remaining fish in their supply wins.