Harbor-Bound 2025

Harbor-Bound is an abstract strategy game designed for all ages, carrying an E rating due to its family-friendly nature and absence of violent or inappropriate content. The game is set around the ocean, where two fishermen compete to dominate the waters. With its nautical theme, the game captures the balance between human strategy and the unpredictable forces of nature, like high tides, creating both tension and excitement as players battle for control of the sea.

Gameplay

A typical game lasts around 40 minutes, though a full match of best two out of three can stretch to nearly two hours. The game is played using three pens or coloring tools and a sheet of paper, making it both simple and accessible. Two pens represent each player’s side, while the third pen sets up additional game features. Played on a 2D board with 2D pieces, Harbor-Bound emphasizes strategy, patience, and careful planning as players maneuver their equipment across the grid.

Goal

The objective of Harbor-Bound is to capture the most acres of water within the playing field. Players draw and position fishermen’s equipment—collectively called the Pool of Play—to enclose grid spaces, with fully enclosed areas counting as captured acres. Over the course of four rounds, players must defend their territory against invading pieces while also adapting to the disruptive effects of high tides. Success comes from outthinking your opponent, protecting your water, and claiming the ocean as your own.

—description from the designer

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