At the beginning of 2024, I never would have imagined that the new release Captain Flip would captivate me so much. Even back then, the simple gameplay, with "only" four playable adventure boards, was incredibly addictive. Two years later, after Kraken, we now have the first "real" expansion.
An island and four tablets
On Isla Bomba, the tile-loving pirate captain will find 4 new adventure boards and 5 treasure maps, each with its own unique features. The treasure maps now tie their bonuses to conditions and usually grant more coins. For example, you can now steal coins, or you'll receive more coins the longer you hold the treasure map. The enchanted treasure map prevents you from flipping tiles but also grants 2 coins per turn. The gambling treasure map also awards two coins, but only if you haven't received any coins in the previous turn.
The adventure boards offer not only familiar effects for filling columns and now also rows, but also all sorts of special features. The Observatory, for example, focuses on the two treasure maps that are available in games using this adventure board. With the Prison, you know two characters from the start that you might be able to place during the game.
The sea is the sea
Captain Flip Even after two years, it remains consistently very high in my personal game ranking. Even after several dozen games, the base game hasn't become boring or monotonous for me. What I would have needed Isla Bomba Well, actually not.
And yet, it's exactly what I needed to enhance the game even further. Without unnecessarily complicating the game with significant new rules, it simply builds upon what the game already offers. The boards are already the driving force in the base game, providing variety alongside the ever-changing combinations of drawn tiles. Having twice the selection here, with so many diverse effects, is a definite plus. The new treasure maps (especially highlighted by the observatory) are also a fantastic addition.
Who visites Captain Flip Those unfamiliar with the game will certainly find the base game alone sufficient for hours of fun. However, those who frequently assemble new pirate crews will find the expansion to be just the right "sea" of entertainment.
Information about Captain Flip – Isla Bomba
| Number of people: 2 to 5 people Age: from 8 years Playing time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Family game Long-term motivation: very good Mechanics: Tile-laying game, Push your luck Game idea: Paolo Mori, Remo Conzadori Illustrations: Jonathan Aucomte Publisher: PlayPunk; German edition Asmodee Official Website: Captain Flip – Isla Bomba Year of publication: 2026 Language: German Cost: approx. 15 euros |
