JAWS (2019)

PLAYERS	TIME	DESIGNER	PUBLISHER
2-4	60 mins	Brian Kirk	Ravensburger

This asymmetrical hidden movement game plays in two parts, and is a great tabletop version of the movie.

One player controls the titular Shark, roaming the shores of Amity Island, gobbling up swimmers.

Meanwhile, the other players (as Brody, Hooper and Quint) must try and locate the beast while also protecting the oblivious tourists.

But this is only part one. Much like the movie, once our three heroes have a plan and an idea of what they’re facing, they head out on the open waters and go head-to-head with the vicious hunter.

This is represented by flipping the board from the map side and then having eight tiles make up The Orca as the Shark player tries to tear the boat apart.

I really like this game. It was my first step into Hidden Movement as a mechanic, and it was obviously a big help being based upon one of my favourite movies.

Something I really enjoy is the impact the first half of the game has on part two.

The Shark player is rewarded based on their victim tally, meaning the heroes are racing against the clock to stop the shark becoming too strong before the second half.

And not only do they weaken their enemy if they are quick at locating the shark, but they make themselves stronger for the show down too.

The game has some nice art work and components too. The island board and Orca tiles are nice and detailed. The wooden meeples are okay with the Shark being the standout. And I love the bite dice with their blood red colouring.

I also like the characters. Like Brody, for example. While Hooper and Quint are out in their boats trying to locate the Shark, he’s afraid of the water, so confined to land and attempting to close beaches.

Overall, JAWS is a great hidden movement game that keeps the pace going with having two phases. It mostly follows the movie too, and is a fantastic a IP game.