I have a hefty appreciation for a game that is clearly designed for kids, but doesn’t talk down to them. You can usually spot it pretty quickly. The rules are simple, sure, but there’s space for choice. The artwork is inviting, understanding its target audience without sacrificing quality. And most importantly, the game understands that sometimes the experience around the table matters just as much as who actually wins.
I see a lot of these elements in Mooki Island. At its core, Mooki Island is a two-player set collection game. You’re drafting adorable animal cards, each of which is double-sided, and deciding which side you want to use. Each animal is associated with a particular territory / symbol, and you’re trying to get the most of those symbols to win the trophy for that territory at the end of the game. Each trophy is worth a certain number of points, and whoever has collected the most points at the end of the game wins.
A Creature for Every Kid
So everything’s built around which side of the card you want to use, and the simplicity of that mechanic plays well for different kiddos. For the younger ones, it’s often as simple as “I like this one better.” Right now, my four-year-old mostly plays with his heart. He picks the animal he likes best, and that’s usually the end of the analysis. But every so often, he’ll lock onto a particular set and suddenly care very deeply about getting every card possible of that type. Not a completely sound strategy, but it’s a step in the right direction.
For slightly older kids (or younger kids who get just a moment of clarity), that decision slowly turns into something more strategic. They start to keep track of which sets they have been collecting, and might even begin watching what their opponent is collecting. This is my daughter. At six years old, she’s able to strategize a little better, and she can usually tell when she’s winning or losing in a particular category.
There’s also a small “take that” element introduced by the spider cards. Instead of taking spiders, you give them to opponents. You’ll sacrifice the opportunity to collect symbols, but at the end of the game, the player with the most spiders has to give up a trophy they collected. Mechanically, it’s a clever wrinkle.
Emotionally… your mileage may vary. If a kid feels like they’ve been doing really well and suddenly has to hand something over, that can sting. In our house, that’s led to a few near meltdowns. Not a dealbreaker, but you definitely need to keep in mind the kids you’re playing with when you bring out this one.
Built for Replayability
Component-wise, Mooki Island is killing it. The cards are nice and big and the artwork is wonderful. There’s even a special animal in each category that’s worth two symbols and has some fancy UV touchup on the artwork. Nice! I also like the way the trophies can be displayed, adding a little extra bit of table presence without taking up much space.
But the real standout addition is the poster and naming element at the end of the game. After scoring is done, players get to name some of their animals and write them down on the poster. This is, without question, my kids’ favorite part. In fact, my son often wants to rush through the game just so he can get to the naming. We now have recurring characters — “Water”, “Leafy J”, and a handful of other creatures who apparently live full lives between sessions. That little narrative hook is perfect for younger players, and it gives the game a sense of continuity that most small card games never even attempt.
Is Mooki Island challenging? Not really, but that’s okay. Games don’t always need to be. It plays quickly, sets up fast, and fits neatly into those in-between moments — right before bedtime, while waiting for homework to finish, or when you’ve got one kid free and the other occupied. It’s not trying to be the centerpiece of your game night. It’s trying to be fun and cool, and it succeeds.
Final Thoughts
Mooki Island is a gentle, charming two-player game that understands its audience. It gives kids room to grow, lets them engage on their own terms, and creates moments that linger after the last card is played. And honestly, any game that results in my kids excitedly talking about named animal friends days later is doing something very right.
Mookie Island can be purchased at your local game store, through the Hachette Games webstore, or online through Amazon today.
This game was provided to us by the publisher for review. Read more about our review policies at One Board Family.
Highs
- Kid-centric design
- Beautiful components & presentation
- The kids love the poster
Lows
- “Take that” mechanics can lead to big feelings
- Limited depth for older players
- Supports only two players
Complexity
Time Commitment
Replayability
