Peninsula

The publisher of this game asked us if we could write this review in English. For our Dutch speaking audience, we recommend to use the translate button you can find on the blog.

Peninsula is a flip & write game. It’s a highly strategic experience in which you play as a landscape architect competing in a design contest. Your goal is to create the perfect island layout by drawing villages, trees, houses, and more.

In each round, all players simultaneously decide where to place their constructions, keeping everyone engaged. The active player chooses an icon that determines what options the other players have, requiring careful planning and strategy.

Interaction and timing play a crucial role. You can only build on hexes adjacent to your architect token and have limited movement, forcing players to move to the right place at the right time - otherwise they might run out of available hexes to draw on. Every decision has consequences.

Try to build certain types of infrastructure so your architect can move efficiently across your map and remain flexible. Draw symbols that increase your victory points and aim to complete contracts. The winner is the player with the most points for the most efficiently designed island.

There’s a lot of variation in the setup, ensuring a unique experience every time you play. A full game lasts about 30 minutes. After a fixed number of rounds, the game ends, and the player with the most victory points wins. 

The game is played over three phases:

Draw Phase
The active player draws a card and places it face up, keeping the chosen icon facing toward them.

Action Phase (simultaneous for all players)
The active player chooses one of the available icons (e.g., village, tunnel, forest, harbor, etc.) to use.
This choice determines what other players cannot use - or what alternative options they get.
Then, all players simultaneously draw on their island sheet:

The active player and passive players use the chosen icon to draw on a hex adjacent to their architect or to move their architect. The other players must either take the remaining option(s) or decide whether to use a “tool” to copy the active player’s chosen icon. You must draw on a hex directly adjacent to your current position or infrastructure.

Infrastructure (roads, tunnels) is key—since movement is scarce, it determines which hexes you can reach.

Administration Phase
Once the action phase ends, the round is over, and a new round begins with a new card being drawn.
This continues until an end condition is met (for example, a set number of rounds or when no hexes are left to build on). 

You earn points for completing mission or contract cards (e.g., “build X tunnels,” “connect a village to a harbor,” etc.), using your infrastructure efficiently, since a well-built network makes it easier to expand to new hexes. Identifying landmarks or unique structures on your island, which provide bonus points.

Always think ahead! As the active player, you can choose an icon that benefits you but also restricts your opponents. Plan your infrastructure (roads and tunnels) early so you’ll have easier access to different areas of your island later. Pay attention to the mission and landmark objectives—design your island so you can fulfill several of them by the end of the game. 

Final Thoughts:
I find Peninsula a very promising game, especially if you enjoy puzzly, strategic flip & write games. Despite its simple rules, it requires meaningful decision-making and planning. The setup variation ensures that each session feels fresh. If you’re looking for a game that’s short, interactive, and strategic, Peninsula is highly recommended. 

This game was provided by Karma Games and can be played at Het Geel Pionneke from november on.

 

Number of players : 1 - 4
Age : 10+
Duration :  30 - 40 min
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