Spirit Island (2017 Greater Than Games First Edition)

Spirit Island (2017 Greater Than Games First Edition)

Spirit Island isn't just a board game. It's a phenomenon. Designed by R. Eric Reuss and published by Greater Than Games in 2017, this cooperative strategy game flipped the script on the colonial adventure genre by putting players in the role of island spirits defending their homeland from invading colonizers. The game was a critical sensation, rocketing to the top of BoardGameGeek rankings where it has stayed firmly planted in the top 15 ever since.

The first edition, funded through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $400,000, has become a genuinely collectible item for board game enthusiasts. While Spirit Island has been reprinted multiple times and remains widely available in later printings, the original 2017 Greater Than Games first edition carries a distinct identity and a premium among collectors who care about owning the earliest version of a modern classic.

History and Context

R. Eric Reuss spent years developing Spirit Island, and his design philosophy was deliberate and thoughtful. He wanted to create a cooperative game with genuine strategic depth, asymmetric player powers, and a thematic framework that challenged the typical board game narrative of European expansion and conquest. Instead of playing the colonizers, you play the colonized (well, the supernatural guardians of the colonized), working to drive invaders off your island through elemental powers, fear, and the assistance of the native Dahan people.

The Kickstarter launched in early 2017 and was funded within hours. Greater Than Games, already known for the Sentinels of the Multiverse series, managed the production and delivered to backers later that year. The retail release followed shortly after.

What sets Spirit Island apart mechanically is its depth. Each spirit plays fundamentally differently, with unique power progressions, innate abilities, and strategic approaches. The game includes multiple adversaries (representing different colonial powers) with escalating difficulty levels, scenario cards that modify the game's rules, and a modular island board that ensures replayability. For a cooperative game, the decision space is enormous, and experienced players can spend months exploring different spirit combinations and difficulty levels.

The game's critical reception was extraordinary. It won the 2018 Golden Geek Award for Best Strategy Board Game and has been consistently rated among the top cooperative games ever designed. This sustained acclaim has only strengthened demand for first edition copies.

What Makes the First Edition Special

The first edition of Spirit Island has several distinguishing characteristics:

Kickstarter Origins: The very first copies were Kickstarter fulfillment editions, which included exclusive promos and stretch goal content. Standard retail first editions followed, and both are collectible, but Kickstarter copies with promos carry a premium.

Greater Than Games Branding: The first edition was published directly under the Greater Than Games label before the company restructured its publishing lines. Later printings may carry different publisher branding or distribution marks.

Component Quality Notes: First edition copies have specific card stock, token thickness, and board finish that differ slightly from later print runs. Some collectors prefer the feel of the original components, while others note that later printings actually improved certain elements.

Print Run Size: While exact numbers aren't public, the first print run was relatively modest compared to the game's eventual popularity. Once Spirit Island became a hit and demand surged, subsequent printings were significantly larger. This makes genuine first editions less common than the game's widespread availability might suggest.

How to Identify a First Edition

Distinguishing a first edition Spirit Island from later printings requires attention to several details:

Box Bottom: Check the printing information on the bottom of the box. First editions will show a 2017 copyright date and Greater Than Games as the sole publisher. Later editions may show additional distribution partners or updated copyright years.

Rulebook: The first edition rulebook has a specific version identifier. Later printings incorporated errata and clarifications, so a rulebook without these corrections is a strong indicator of the earliest print run.

Card Quality: First edition cards have a distinct finish and card stock weight. This is subtle and requires comparison with later printings to notice, but experienced collectors can feel the difference.

UPC/ISBN: The barcode and product identification numbers can help date the printing. Cross-reference these with BoardGameGeek's version tracking for the most reliable identification.

Token Punchboards: First edition punchboards have specific die-cut characteristics. Some first edition copies had minor issues with token fit that were corrected in later runs.

Condition Grading for Board Games

Board game condition grading isn't as standardized as trading cards or vinyl, but the hobby has developed generally accepted categories:

Sealed/New in Shrink: Factory sealed, never opened. The gold standard for collectors.

Like New/Unpunched: Opened but components never punched from sprues, cards never shuffled. Box may show minimal shelf wear.

Near Mint/Punched, Unplayed: Components punched and organized but never actually used in a game. Cards unshuffled, no wear on tokens.

Very Good/Lightly Played: Played a handful of times. Minimal card edge wear, tokens show slight handling, box in good shape with normal wear.

Good/Moderately Played: Regular play evident. Card edges show wear, tokens may have minor surface marks, box shows clear use with possible corner dings.

Acceptable/Heavily Played: Significant play wear throughout. Cards may be marked or bent, tokens worn, box damaged. Complete but showing its age.

Current Market Values

Prices for the 2017 Greater Than Games first edition as of early 2025:

Condition	Price Range
Sealed in Shrink	$150 - $250
Like New / Unpunched	$100 - $160
Near Mint / Punched Unplayed	$80 - $120
Very Good / Lightly Played	$60 - $90
Good / Moderately Played	$40 - $65
Acceptable / Heavily Played	$25 - $45

For context, current retail printings sell for $50-60 new. The first edition premium is modest compared to some collectible board games, but the trend has been steadily upward as Spirit Island's reputation continues to grow.

Kickstarter editions with exclusive promo spirits or other stretch goal content command an additional premium of $30-75 depending on which promos are included and their condition.

What to Look for When Buying

Verify completeness first. Spirit Island has a LOT of components. Use the official component list from Greater Than Games to check everything against what's included. Missing a single spirit panel, power card, or set of presence tokens significantly impacts both playability and value.

Ask about card condition specifically. Cards are the most handled component and show wear first. Shuffled power cards will show edge wear before anything else in the box deteriorates. If you're buying for collection value rather than play, card condition matters enormously.

Check for the common issues. First edition copies had some reports of slightly warped island boards (a common issue with thick cardboard game boards). This doesn't affect playability much but matters for condition-conscious collectors. Boards can sometimes be flattened by storing them under heavy books.

Distinguish between Kickstarter and retail first editions. If a seller claims it's a Kickstarter edition, ask for proof (backer confirmation, presence of exclusive promos). The premium for Kickstarter copies only applies if the exclusive content is actually included.

Consider whether you want to play it. This might sound obvious, but Spirit Island is an incredible game. If you're buying to play, a later printing in better condition might actually serve you better than a worn first edition. If you're buying to collect, then edition and completeness matter more than card sleeve compatibility.

Don't confuse expansions for the base game. Spirit Island has multiple expansions (Branch & Claw, Jagged Earth, Nature Incarnate) and promotional content. A first edition base game is the collectible item. Expansions have their own collecting ecosystem.

Spirit Island earned its place in the board gaming hall of fame through exceptional design, deep strategy, and a thematic perspective that challenged the hobby's conventions. Owning a first edition is owning a piece of modern board gaming history.

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