Forbidden Desert is one of those games I bought without thinking too much—mainly because I got a great deal on Finn. I’m a sucker for great deals. Living in Bergen also makes a man crave some sharp desert climate, just for a change.
Forbidden Desert – Game Overview
Forbidden Desert is a co-op game whose mechanics felt oddly familiar the first time I played. Lo and behold—it’s by Matt Leacock. Matt is pretty famous, known for Pandemic, Iberia, and many more. [Here is a link to check out Matt Leacock’s portfolio.]
Theme and Aesthetics
Forbidden Desert drops you right in the middle of a scorched wasteland. Your squad is on a mission to recover an ancient flying machine buried somewhere beneath the sand. Unfortunately, your modern ride (a helicopter) has been grounded by a brutal sandstorm. Your only hope? Find all the parts of the ancient flying thingy and escape. Good luck.
As for the illustrations and component quality—WOW. The cards and pieces are surprisingly well-made.
How to Play Forbidden Desert
The game uses a Pandemic-esque mechanic, which is obviously a solid foundation. There are 6 different characters, each with their own unique abilities and water supply. On your turn, you get four actions to spend on:
- Moving
- Removing sand
- Excavating
- Picking up a part
You play on a randomized 5×5 grid: 24 tiles are terrain, and one is a constantly shifting sandstorm. You’ll need to excavate tiles to uncover the coordinates of the flying machine, collect all its parts, assemble it, and escape—before you’re buried in sand or die of thirst.
This is just a TLDR; the actual gameplay is more complex—and more fun. But I won’t spoil it for you. Just be ready for whole lotta sand. Your friend Anakin can skip this game night.
How Complex is Forbidden Desert?
I’d say this is one of the easier co-ops to learn, but that doesn’t mean it’s for dummies. You’ll get through the 7-page rulebook quickly, and after just one game, you’ll have the mechanics down. It’s marketed as 10+, and I completely agree.
The rules are straightforward. You can even add a house rule—swap characters between games if you’ve already used them. Keeps things fresh.
Game Length and Replayability
Game length depends on the number of players, of course, but 45 minutes is about the max. Replayability is guaranteed thanks to random characters, randomized terrain tiles, and that chaotic sandstorm, which even moves already excavated machine parts.
Who Is It Best For?
The box recommends 2–5 players. You can play solo, but I prefer playing with my spouse. I’m not a fan of too many players in co-ops—but that’s just me. It also works well as a family game, if your family can agree on anything.
Portability and Setting
Forbidden Desert is best enjoyed at home. You’ll need space for the terrain tiles, sand markers, machine parts, and so on. Outdoors or pubs/cafés? Not ideal, as you need some table space.
Where to Buy Forbidden Desert?
I got my copy on Finn—pre-owned—for 100 NOK. The deal of the century. It arrived in perfect condition, despite the questionable quality of delivery services that rule the Norwegian realm.
At the time of writing (22.9.2025), the cheapest new copy was 499 NOK at Gamezone. Huge difference. You don’t always have to buy new—check out my list of the best places to buy board games in Bergen.
Forbidden Desert – Pros and Cons
PROS
- Replayable
- Innovative elements
- Easy to learn
- Strong visual appeal
CONS
- Sometimes feels like a rat race
- Definitely has a “Pandemic meets Forbidden Island” vibe
Is it Fun?
Oh yes, it is. A lot happens in just 24 tiles, and Forbidden Desert has enough complexity to keep you entertained for many hours—if co-op games are your cup of tea. If not, you’ll get the feeling that one player makes all the decisions while the others just move the meeples. To be fair, that goes for all co-op games.
Final Thoughts
Forbidden Desert is a fun and endlessly replayable co-op game. If you’ve played Pandemic, the similarities will be obvious—but that’s not a bad thing. Me? I’ll keep playing it with my spouse during our non-competitive board game nights.