Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, along comes JAWS: The Board Game, from German toy and game company, Ravensburger. The officially-licensed tabletop strategy game allows 2-4 players to replicate some of the iconic moments from Stephen Spielberg’s classic film. One player takes on the role of the three-ton killer great white shark while up to three other players play the protagonists: Brody, Hooper, and Quint.
In Act 1: Amity Island, the player controlling the shark terrorizes the community by attacking swimmers and attempting to avoid capture. Each successful attack increases the shark’s power for the second round of the game. The three hero characters combine forces and try to stem the tide of shark attacks by pinpointing the shark’s location and tagging it with two barrels. Once the shark has been located and tagged, the game advances to round two, which is played on the reverse side of the board.
In Act 2: The Orca, Brody, Hooper, and Quint are at sea aboard the sinking ship in the life-or-death climatic battle with the shark. The protagonists use a series of action and strategy cards to use their available weapons and defend the boat. Meanwhile, the shark has its own set of cards that dictate where and when it attacks the boat and passengers.
If Brody, Hooper, and Quinn kill the shark, they win. If the boat is destroyed or all the humans are eaten, the shark wins and lives to continue to terrorize swimmers.
JAWS: The Board Game is scheduled to be released in June 2019. It will be available from a variety of retailers for $30 USD.
