Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Easier to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Light strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Upgrade a chunky three-dimensional ship, reveal uncertain sea tiles, trade requested goods, hunt pirates, and complete the harbor alliance’s tasks first.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Push Your Luck
Choose whether to secure current gains or risk them for a larger reward.
Trading
Exchange resources, assets, or promises with other players.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Memory
Remember previously revealed information, positions, or sequences.
Read the full game description
North Wind is a family adventure of cargo runs, ship building, and calculated risk. Every captain begins with a large three-dimensional vessel that physically gains sails, cannons, crew, and cargo as it improves. On a turn, the active player reveals sea tiles one at a time and decides whether to use the location or keep sailing. Helpful islands offer goods and upgrades, while pirate encounters test the ship’s strength with dice; pushing farther can uncover exactly the port or reward needed, but an unlucky encounter may end the voyage without progress. Harbor cities request particular deliveries or defeated pirates, and completing these public tasks places a token on the central board. Because rivals remember where useful tiles were returned, later voyages blend memory with opportunistic timing. The first captain to complete the required number of tasks proves that trade, preparation, and courage can restore the alliance.
