Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
The Great Barrier Reef Card Game is a small-box card game where players grow a portion of the reef in a tableau in front of them. On your turn, play a card from your hand to extend your reef in an attempt to create patterns.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Pattern Building
Place elements to create arrangements that satisfy scoring or action patterns.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Tile Placement
Place tiles to build a shared or personal spatial arrangement.
Layering
Place components over earlier pieces so their order and overlap affect play.
Read the full game description
The Great Barrier Reef Card Game is a small-box card game where players grow a portion of the reef in a tableau in front of them. On your turn, play a card from your hand to extend your reef in an attempt to create patterns. Randomly selected scoring cards will tell you what patterns are in play. Then draw from the card row according to the number on the card you played. Each turn you will attempt to both improve your reef through your card play and ensure you are drawing the right card for future plays. Scoring conditions can be altered by covering sharks and sponges. The game ends when the deck runs out. Players score based on how well they completed the patterns indicated. Whoever builds the healthiest reef wins! -description from publisher