Reef Encounter cover
2004BGG rank #1,064

Reef Encounter

by Richard Breese · R&D Games

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Players2–4
Time60–120m
ComplexityMedium-Heavy
Age10+

About the game

What is Reef Encounter?

Reef Encounter is about life on a coral reef! Using polyp tiles, players grow different types of corals, which they can protect from being attacked by other corals through judicious placing of their four shrimp counters. To be successful, players must consume polyps from neighboring corals in order to acquire the 'consumed' polyp tiles that are the key to the game. The consumed polyp tiles have a myriad of uses (and have a similar effect to the action points in games like Tikal and Java). Most importantly, they can be used to flip over or lock the coral tiles, which determine the respective values of the different types of coral at the end of the game. -Description from the designer

How it plays

Mechanics

Area Majority / InfluenceCommodity SpeculationHand ManagementOpen DraftingTile Placement

On the shelf

Categories

AnimalsEnvironmentalTerritory Building

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in Reef Encounter?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?