Finspan: Sharks & Reefs

What is Finspan: Sharks & Reefs?

Finspan: Sharks & Reefs is the first expansion for the oceanic tableau building game Finspan, published in Dutch by 999 Games. The base game Finspan is required to play. The expansion contains 80 new fish cards (of which 5 starter fish and 75 other new species), 90 coral tokens, 3 new scoring tiles, and an improved scoreboard.

Finspan is the aquatic game in the -span line of Stonemaier Games, related to Wingspan en Wyrmspan, in which players, as a marine researcher, discover fish, lay eggs, raise young, and form schools across three deep-dive locations. Finspan: Sharks & Reefs deepens that system through two new central elements: coral reefs as a new habitat layer and sharks with distinctly new abilities.

How does the extension work?

The basic rules of Finspan remain fully in force. Via Deck/Engine Building you build up your ocean mat with fish that combine for a growing engine of bonuses and actions. Via drafting you choose which fish to add to your ocean each turn. Via Only You play against the Automa Nautoma with the new expansion elements.

The 90 coral tokens are the central new mechanism. In each of the three dug sites on your ocean mat, you can build a colorful coral reef by playing reef-building fish on it. As a reef grows and becomes healthier, it clears the way for powerful reef fish that are normally unplayable, unlocks fish abilities that would otherwise remain blocked, and yields bonus points at the end of the game via the new score tiles.

The new sharks play an active and disruptive role. They can eat hand cards, leaving the opponent with fewer choices on their next turn. They also displace existing schools on your side or on other players': the young in a school are relocated and form a new school elsewhere. At the same time, sharks leave behind food scraps at the landing site, which can be consumed by any other fish in your ocean as an additional food source. This combination of threat and opportunity makes sharks a tactically nuanced element.

The three new scoring tiles and the improved scoreboard give the endgame more variation per session and offer extra reward conditions in addition to the fixed scoring categories from the base game.

Is it difficult to learn?

Finspan: Sharks & Reefs It is intended for players who are already familiar with the base game. The coral reef mechanic adds a new layer that takes one or two games to fully grasp. The shark rules are quick to understand but require some getting used to the timing. Thanks to the Dutch card text and rules from 999 Games, the expansion is immediately accessible to the entire Dutch and Belgian market.

Who is Finspan: Sharks & Reefs suitable?

Finspan: Sharks & Reefs It is primarily intended for fans of the base game who want to expand their card pool and add a new strategic dimension via the coral reefs. The Dutch-language edition from 999 Games is the ideal choice for those who wish to play the game in their own language. Those who are well-versed in the base game and are ready for more variety in their divesite strategy will find reef building to be a logical and accessible deepening of the system.

Those who do not yet have the base game must first Finspan to purchase. The Dutch version is also available via 999 Games.

Why this game is worth it

The coral reefs give ocean mat build-up a new direction for optimization: in addition to fish, eggs, and schools, reef health is now a consciously pursued state at each dive site. At the same time, the sharks ensure more direct interaction between players than in the base game, as they can drive away schools of opponents. This combination of build-up and disruption makes every session tactically richer without losing the accessibility of the base game. Designer Michael O'Connell explicitly focused on more variety and depth without added complexity, and this is noticeable in the expansion.

Comparison with other games

Finspan: Sharks & Reefs compares directly with expansions for the other -span titles: Wingspan: Oceania as the first major expansion for Wingspan en Wyrmspan: Crimson Caverns for Wyrmspan. Towards Wingspan: Oceania is Sharks & Reefs more compact but introduces a mechanically distinctive new layer via the coral tokens. Anyone who also likes Ark Nova As a nature-themed strategy game with multiple simultaneous optimization goals, you will recognize the coral reef layer as a comparable deepening of an existing system in a more accessible format.

Ready to see how Snowflake works?

Finspan: Sharks & Reefs is the first Dutch-language expansion for Finspan, with 80 new fish cards, 90 coral tokens, new scoring tiles, and disruptive sharks that drive away schools and eat hand cards. Base game required. Language: Dutch. Order Finspan: Sharks & Reefs Now at Boardgameshop.nl.