As an explorer, you’ve landed on an uncharted island filled with new and wondrous species. In the hopes of improving your Instagram followers, you immediately post a photo of a mysterious beast that’s both photogenic and quite cute. It has curved horns like old Norse helms of legend, so you dub it the Vikey. Pleased with yourself, your feed blows up, and soon the island is crawling with adventurers seeking the perfect photo of other curious animals.
The adventure is set! And while Wondrous Creatures is not truly about digital media, it does feature discovery centered around animals on an unexplored island. Published by Bad Comet and designed by C.W. Yeom, and featuring illustrations from Sophia Kang, Wondrous Creatures plays from one to four players in a race for glorious achievement.
Gameplay Overview:
Players compete to be the first to complete specific achievements and collect creature cards that boost their economy and action potential. Each player begins play with a chosen captain with an ability to be unlocked later. They also have three crew members and a starting hand of cards. There are no rounds. Instead, players choose actions and recall crew members after all three have been placed.
There are four basic actions as well as two free action types. The first is placing a crew member. Crew members are added to the main board which features the uncharted island seeded with eggs. The island also gains new habitats over time based on in-game triggers. Placing a crew member onto plains locations is free, whereas entering a mountain requires paying a resource.
Placed crew gather resources and/or cards based on the adjacent habitat types. They also gain any eggs they land on and can use nets (free action) to snatch up adjacent eggs or trigger additional actions. There are four resource types based on habitats. There is also a market of creature cards that feature habitat icons.
The second action to mention is completing an achievement. There are seven achievements to complete that range from creature types (of which there are seven) to habitat and egg collection. These achievements are a race as the first to complete certain thresholds receive greater points. Also, upon completion of the first achievement, players can unlock their captain’s ability. Which you certainly want to do. As such, achievements drive direction.
The third action is playing cards to a personal tableau. Creature cards have a resource cost to play. Creature cards feature a variety of abilities, from one-time immediate actions, stored free actions, end-game scoring, and recharge activations. As cards are played, players increase their creature icons that are used for achievements. Collected eggs also add to this creature type in a player’s tableau, though eggs must be spent (hatched) to be used in this manner.
The final basic action is the recharge step. Players can only recharge after placing all three crew members. Upon taking the action, players recall their crew, activate any recharge cards in their tableau, and move the time track token forward. This time track provides new nets, market refreshes, as well as adds more eggs to the main board.
The time track and achievements both affect the end game trigger, which is trophies. Based on player count, a certain number of trophies are available to gain. Once all trophies are either gained through achievements or removed from the board via reaching the end of the time track, this triggers the final round.
Game Experience:
I was quite excited to try this game after all the praise it received via content creators and early reviews. Wondrous Creatures has excellent production value and unique illustrations. It has delightful wooden crew members, and some even have a magnet to attach your captain to. Each card is unique (which I love to see), and card powers follow the tried-and-true method of activations and icons. There are 126 creature cards in all.
The concept is also fun. Trapping around an island seeking creatures and eggs, getting in each other’s way, fighting for achievements, showcasing your captain’s special ability, and flinging nets around at anything that moves. Captain’s abilities interact with different aspects of the game, from being good at collecting eggs, to free mountain placement, to resource generation. All are fun and feel balanced, especially at higher player counts.
During play, there is a lot of thought that needs to go into action timing. Timing is complicated by needing resources to play cards, choosing when to collect an achievement, and when to finally recharge. All of this creates a distant player interaction but demands that players pay attention. The race to achievements also creates pockets of high-value placement on the island as players utilize their nets to keep their egg economy healthy.
The rulebook is excellent, even featuring a glossary for all cards and captains. There is an included solo mode that also does an excellent job of getting in your way and providing quite a lot of challenge. In fact, I find the solo mode doing a better job of ramping challenge and shortening game length and it may be my preferred way to play with the rules as written.
My major issue with Wondrous Creatures is the game’s length at all other player counts. It is apparent during early plays that there was not enough thought regarding the end game. Trophies take time to collect, the time track doesn’t move fast enough, and the in-game scoring option which provides additional trophy removal is nigh impossible to reach. The scoring track bonuses should be more readily available to increase habitats and shorten game length.
Restriction is also missing. As rounds drag out, players find themselves filling up their egg tracks, playing numerous cards into their tableau, and gaining most achievements. This makes tableau building less strategic and pulls much of the pressure away from the race to score. In the end, I had to search on my own for ways to make this design work for me—more in-game scoring, fewer available trophies, fewer card options. I’d love a new overlay with a shorter time track as well.
The scoring track is the main way to gain new habitat tiles. These new tiles provide more resources or cards, add new abilities, and change the island landscape. Due to the non-modularity of the island board, habitats needed more emphasis to create a more dynamic space. It is apparent immediately which placement locations are the best. And they remain the best at the start of every game you play.
Final Thoughts:
Wonderous Creatures looks excellent on the surface. It’s only after several plays that you’ll begin to see that the design hatched too early. The system grapples with creating a day of exploration mixed with a rush for achievements. It is trying to be cozy, and by doing so, it overstays its welcome by losing tension. It is a classic mix of being an eye pleaser but not matching this with quality gameplay. This is going to appeal to those who gravitate toward the gimmick of the magnetic captain and the unique theme. It may not appeal to those who enjoy strategy designs that are tight and compelling. Rather than adding expansions, this deserves a second pass at the design to keep me coming back to explore the island.
Final Score: 3 stars – These unique creatures are not enough to overcome several design missteps.
Hits:
• Unique cards
• Action timing
• Egg economy
Misses:
• Game length
• Scoring track missteps
• Non-modular board
Source: Board Game Quest
