Lighthouse Run

About this board game

Lighthouse Run is a 2–4 player racing game with a 25-minute play time, released in 2018. Each player guides five sailboats along the coast, racing from lighthouse to lighthouse while a storm steadily moves toward the harbor.

Six lighthouses line the route, but only three workers are available to operate them. During the game, you must manage which lighthouses are lit, since a boat can move only when the lighthouse it is approaching is turned on. Some moves benefit all players, while others help only your own fleet.

Each player has an identical deck of fourteen cards. The game lasts twelve rounds, and each round gives you a hand of three cards. On your turn, play a card to move a number of boats—some yours and some belonging to other players—while also adjusting which lighthouses are lit.

• Race with five sailboats along a coastal route.
• Manage three active lighthouses from a total of six.
• Play cards that affect boat movement and lighthouse signals.
• Keep ahead of the storm as it advances at the end of each round.

At the end of every round, the storm moves closer to the boats. Any boat caught by the storm is removed from the game and scores points for the last lighthouse it passed, making every decision a balance between progress and survival.

When the storm reaches the harbor after the twelfth round, players total the points earned by their boats. In Lighthouse Run, thoughtful card play, changing lighthouse availability, and shared movement determine who manages to get the fleet furthest and finish with the highest score.