Board games are wonderfully diverse. Even after playing hundreds over the years, there are still those that surprise simply because they offer a truly different experience. That was certainly the case when the Meeple Guild recently got Cocoons to the table.
Designed by Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort, and Julien Griffon, Cocoons is a cooperative game—a genre we admittedly gravitate toward. Even so, this one stands out thanks to its strong “puzzle box” feel and clever physical design.
As the publisher Bankiiiz Editions describes it:
“The guardian animals have gotten lost! Together, help them find their way back to their cocoons using a sliding puzzle that reveals clues. But beware: each of you only sees the information directly in front of you… Communication and cooperation will be essential to success.”
At its core, Cocoons presents players with a set of interlocking puzzle boxes—called “nests” in the game. Working together, your goal is to maneuver these nests to determine which animal belongs in each one. There are eight animals in total. Each nest features an animal symbol that’s visible only from a single side, meaning a move won’t always reveal the information you need.
As nests slide, animals are revealed. If you know where that animal’s nest is located, you can place the token there. Correctly match all eight animals and open the starting space, and you win.
It’s simple—but definitely not easy.
And if it starts to feel manageable, Cocoons offers optional mechanisms to raise the challenge. Some variations require turning the entire box during play, stretching memory and spatial reasoning even further. These twists add welcome replayability.
The components aren’t flashy, but they’re smartly designed. The “boxes within a box” concept, along with the layered ways information is hidden and revealed, feels both innovative and playful.
Admittedly, our first game was a bit ho-hum. But as we settled into its rhythm, Cocoons grew on us—a lot. It plays quickly and demands solid memory skills, though thankfully those demands are shared across the group.
In the end, Cocoons left a strong impression. As a family game (for slightly older kids) or for a group of friends looking for something light yet mentally engaging, this one comes highly recommended.
In Canada, Cocoons is available through Ilo307.com.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Sharpen Your Mind With This “Boxy” Charmer
Designed by Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort, and Julien Griffon, Cocoons is a cooperative game—a genre we admittedly gravitate toward. Even so, this one stands out thanks to its strong “puzzle box” feel and clever physical design.
As the publisher Bankiiiz Editions describes it:
At its core, Cocoons presents players with a set of interlocking puzzle boxes—called “nests” in the game. Working together, your goal is to maneuver these nests to determine which animal belongs in each one. There are eight animals in total. Each nest features an animal symbol that’s visible only from a single side, meaning a move won’t always reveal the information you need.
As nests slide, animals are revealed. If you know where that animal’s nest is located, you can place the token there. Correctly match all eight animals and open the starting space, and you win.
It’s simple—but definitely not easy.
And if it starts to feel manageable, Cocoons offers optional mechanisms to raise the challenge. Some variations require turning the entire box during play, stretching memory and spatial reasoning even further. These twists add welcome replayability.
The components aren’t flashy, but they’re smartly designed. The “boxes within a box” concept, along with the layered ways information is hidden and revealed, feels both innovative and playful.
Admittedly, our first game was a bit ho-hum. But as we settled into its rhythm, Cocoons grew on us—a lot. It plays quickly and demands solid memory skills, though thankfully those demands are shared across the group.
In the end, Cocoons left a strong impression. As a family game (for slightly older kids) or for a group of friends looking for something light yet mentally engaging, this one comes highly recommended.
In Canada, Cocoons is available through Ilo307.com.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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