Beacon Patrol, brought to harbor by Pandasaurus Games, presents a nautical adventure that encourages 1-4 players to navigate the coast of the North Sea to secure its waterways. As Coast Guard captains, players are tasked with mapping the coast by exploring the waters and inspecting lighthouses and buoys. Lay tiles, move your ship and collaborate with the other captains to traverse the sea.
The objective of Beacon Patrol is to expand the board by laying tiles to “explore” tiles. A tile is considered explored when it is connected to other tiles on all four sides. Points are awarded for each explored tile, with additional points for features found on the tiles, such as buoys and lighthouses. Two mini-expansions included in the box add piers and windmills.
The gameplay anchors its core in tile placement, urging players to adapt to the evolving board and plan ahead. Unlike most tile-laying games, Beacon Patrol requires all tiles to be oriented in the same direction causing some tough placement decisions. Once per turn, the active player may trade a tile with another player, allowing some flexibility. Tiles that cannot be placed are discarded and removed from the game reducing your potential score.
I found the gameplay to be fun, cozy and easy to learn. Trading tiles between players felt more like a collaborative effort rather than just taking a tile for myself. Finding myself in a situation where I had to discard a tile due to the luck of the draw was disheartening. Scoring the board can become tedious when there are numerous gaps in the map. Despite minor setbacks, Beacon Patrol’s cozy ambiance and strategic play promise many delightful voyages on the board gaming seas.
Starting with the classic charm of the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mike ventured into the spell-slinging arenas of Magic: The Gathering. He later immersed himself in the strategy and storytelling of modern board games. His passion has taken him from digital realms to tactile tabletops, always in search of the next great game.
Beacon Patrol by Pandasaurus Games offers a captivating blend of nautical adventure and cooperative strategy for 1-4 players. The unique mechanics around tile placement, alongside the inviting cozy aesthetic, create a warm and engaging atmosphere that complements the thematic voyage. While there may be minor challenges with scoring and tile placement, the overall experience is a delightful fusion of strategy and maritime camaraderie, making it a worthwhile addition to any board game collection.
PROS
- Accessible yet challenging
- Comes with two expansions in the box
- Quick playtime of 30 to 45 minutes
CONS
- Scoring can be tedious and hard to count
- Limited strategic depth
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