- BGG rank
- BGG #529
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Through the Desert
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #927
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Blue Lagoon
2018
Rules assistance for Blue Lagoon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Blue Lagoon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Blue Lagoon is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
Blue Lagoon is an area control and set collection game in which players manage a group of settlers spreading out over the islands of a newly discovered archipelago. The game is played over two phases (the exploration phase followed by the settlement phase). Over the course of both phases, you will expand your presence on the board by adding one new token each turn (either a settler or a village token). The goal is to collect the resources scattered over the map by placing your tokens on top of them. In the first phase, you can place a new token anywhere you like, as long as it is touching either the lagoon OR one of your previously played tokens. In the second phase, the board is cleared, except for the villages, and now you can only expand from the villages you played in the first phase! At the end of both phases, players score points for the sets of resources they collected. Most points wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Broadway Toys LTD
- ADC Blackfire Entertainment
- Mandoo Games
- Blue Orange Games
- Blue Orange (EU)
- Zvezda
- Grok Games
- Happy Color
- Gemblo Company
- Amo Oy
- Funiverse
Questions and answers
Blue Lagoon supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Blue Lagoon is 30–45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Blue Lagoon for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Blue Lagoon has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Blue Lagoon belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Variable Set-up. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Blue Lagoon are: Reiner Knizia. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Blue Lagoon as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.