Island Adventure Board Game

One rainy afternoon, Gabriel and I set out to make our very own board game, taking inspiration from the classic adventure-style games he loves. We started with a humble cardboard box, which we opened up and covered with blank paper to serve as our canvas. From there, the real fun began—designing an island and all the features we wanted it to have.

We sketched out an outline of the island and filled in the surrounding sea, thinking carefully about what exciting landmarks we could add. It didn’t take long for the ideas to start flowing! Our island quickly took shape, featuring everything from a volcano and a mysterious pyramid to a forest, circus, maze, village, and even steep cliffs. To finish it off, we added a grand stadium at the end, marking the final destination and ultimate goal of our game.

With our island blueprint ready, we dove into building the structures. We cut up coloured foam sheets and old egg boxes, each shape transforming into a part of our island. The egg boxes made excellent bumpy cliffs, while the foam sheets became colourful trees, buildings, and even a big tent. Once the structures were in place, we raided our sticker collection, adding animals, characters, and little details that brought the island to life.

Our game now had over 20 “stops” along the way, each location a step closer to the stadium. We decided to add a twist to the gameplay, incorporating one of Gabriel’s favourite activities: Beyblade battles. The rules were simple: we’d have a Beyblade duel at each stop, with the winner moving forward and the loser staying put. The first one to reach the stadium would be crowned the island champion!

Over time, the game has grown. We’ve added clay characters to represent our “players,” and Gabriel brought out his Treasure X pirate ship, which we now use as the official starting point for every game. Each time we play, there’s a new adventure to be had, whether it’s battling at the volcano or navigating the twists of the maze.

Creating this board game together has been one of those wonderfully imaginative projects, and it’s brought countless hours of play. The island we built together is a reminder of how a few simple materials and a bit of imagination can spark an entire world of adventure!