Kelp is a two-player asymmetrical game where one player controls a crafty octopus and the other plays as a pyjama shark in their natural underwater habitat. The game combines hide and seek mechanics with bluffing and manipulation, featuring both deck building and dice bag building elements as players engage in this predator vs prey encounter.
The Verdict
based on 11 reviews
This video offers a critique and review of the 2-player asymmetrical board game, Kelp: Shark vs Octopus, focusing on its aspects from a Kickstarter perspective. It evaluates the game's mechanics and overall experience.
This review highlights Kelp as an excellent asymmetrical two-player board game combining deck and dice building. It praises the engaging cat-and-mouse gameplay, solid components, and high replayability, noting a 9/10 overall score.
Grant Lyon reviews "Kelp: Shark vs Octopus", describing it as a wonderful and interesting asymmetrical two-player board game. Players take on the roles of either the hunting shark or the surviving octopus, engaging in unique strategies and engaging gameplay.
Kelp: Shark vs Octopus is a two-player asymmetrical board game featuring deck and dice building mechanics. The reviewer praises the cat-and-mouse gameplay and high replayability, recommending it as an excellent two-player experience.
The Dice Tower reviews Kelp: Shark vs Octopus, a two-player asymmetrical game where one player hunts as the Shark and the other evades as the Octopus. The review details the game's hidden movement, card play, and dice-bag building mechanics, offering final thoughts on its overall experience.
This video from Board Game Hangover ranks all the board games played in June 2025, including "Kelp: Shark vs Octopus". The reviewers discuss the game's asymmetric gameplay and impressive rulebook, offering a positive overall impression.
BoardGameCo's review praises Kelp as a delightful and charming asymmetric two-player game with great mechanics, highlighting its cat-and-mouse gameplay between the shark and octopus. The reviewer highly recommends the game, appreciating the distinct playstyles of each side.
The reviewer praises Kelp's asymmetrical gameplay and tense theme for both the desperate shark and cautious octopus. They question the ending's reliance on a card flip and find the octopus's eating strategy too risky, desiring more strategic depth for the octopus.
The reviewer praises Kelp for its unique, primal take on hidden movement, favoring gut feelings and chance over logic, creating an immediate and exciting experience. However, the high luck factor can reduce player agency, and its appeal diminishes once players 'over-learn' its systems.
This video provides a genuine review of the asymmetrical board game Kelp: Shark vs Octopus, highlighting its unique two-player dynamics. The review offers a strong positive opinion, suggesting an excellent experience with the game's mechanics and theme.
The reviewer found Kelp frustrating due to its random combat resolution, despite lovely components and strategic depth for the Octopus. While acknowledging its appeal for fans of lighter hidden movement, the reviewer personally disliked it.
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