Into the Endless Ice with Expedition: Northwest Passage

Brave the frozen and lonely expanse of the Arctic on a perilous journey in Expedition: Northwest Passage.
My list of favorite games tends to vary, but now is the time to look back! I was appalled to learn the last time I played Expedition: Northwest Passage… November 2019. What?! This has always been one of my best solo experiences. There was the everlasting hunt for a complete map, and the tension of bringing the crew home safely. Back to the Arctic!
Game Overview
Game Name: Expedition: Northwest Passage
Publication Year: 2010
Designer: Yves Tourigny
Artist: Stéphane Poinsot and Yves Tourigny
Solo Mode: Official Solo Variant
From the safety of Greenland, a lone ship set sail to locate the Northwest Passage. Through unknown terrain, the small crew would discover narrow channels and massive ice islands. Perhaps this boils down to a tile-laying puzzle… Yet it’s so much more with the growing tension to safely guide the crew all the way back to Greenland.
First Play
January 26, 2018
Complexity
3
Latest Play
December 21, 2024
Expansions
0
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
62
Play Time
25 Minutes
High Score
17
Game Area
26" x 24"
Low Score
-38
A Tiny but Brave Crew
Normally, the solo mode calls for the crewmen of a single color to be used. I like my diverse crew with slightly unique features. I can tell them all apart! How odd… Ha ha!
Each one can help perform various actions. It all gets more interesting with the different vehicles, too.
At first, everyone is aboard the ship and explores from there. However, there is also a sled that can carry part of the crew across the frozen tundra, and even frozen ice.
Figuring out how to split the 7 crewmembers is a puzzle. Where are they needed most? Where will they be needed?
Under the Arctic Sun
With the sun blazing down, courtesy of some indoor lighting glare, the ship had its initial course set!
Points are awarded in many different ways. For instance, completing islands can be quite lucrative. The crew might be used to explore cairns or meet with individuals.
Yet the overarching goal is to place as many tiles as possible and explore every corner of this treacherous land.
The solar disc is also a clever mechanic that acts as a timer, but also indicates which parts of the map are frozen… Helpful to the sled, but devastating for the ship.
Parting Ways
Shortly after leaving the safe waters of Greenland behind, the sled team bid farewell to their friends. They headed off in different directions, intent on reaching their goal.
The ship had to race south to avoid getting frozen in by the impending winter. It would be quite a challenge.
Meanwhile, the sled stuck to the frozen areas where water no longer separated solid ice. Travel was much easier, yet so was the tendency to run into trouble with planning.
Every tile made a difference. There had to be an easy path back for the ship, or Greenland would never be seen again.
Trapped by Ice
As the temperature dropped dangerously low, the ship crew scrambled to fight off the inevitable ice. Progress was too slow, though, and they found themselves icebound.
With no way to move until spring, they made themselves useful by scouting out the entire area and exploring.
Reports of a waterway through the infernal islands came in. This was a promising discovery for the journey home. A journey, they thought grimly, that might not happen.
The crew endured endless nights, howling winds, and bone-chilling cold. It sunk its teeth in, never to leave.
Into the Unknown
The sled crew made more progress, though they were unaware of the plight of their companions.
Men and women discovered islands made of pure ice in those dark days. Twisting between them all, though, were open waterways that brought hope of the journey home.
They, too, experienced the endless nights. Darkness crept in with the cold for dreary days. Months of hard work still brought them no closer to the fabled Northwest Passage.
Tired and battered, both crews raced for the west when the light of spring unfurled across the sparkling ice.
An Unexpected Reunion
The year wore on. Although the minuscule amount of warmth made the days brighter, all knew how short time was. They would not survive another winter like this.
Then, the ship crew reported an unusual sight to the north. A mirage on the horizon? No: The sled crew!
Everyone celebrated the joyful reunion. To the west, they knew what lay beyond. There was no doubt that the goal was to be reached. It was all mapped out. Finally.
However, the sad reality that Greenland was out of reach hit the crew hard. There was no way to go but forward.
Bracing for a Momentous Occasion
Before reading on, were you around for my incessant goal to complete the solo map? This was a feat I thought impossible. Yet on and on I tried, slowly getting closer until it happened… I got my complete map and couldn’t believe it! I fought long and hard for that sort of victory. It took a lot of planning, strategizing, and relying on good luck.
I switched over to a more conventional way to play after that. Collecting points, racing for the Northwest Passage, and saving the crew became my priorities. After nearly a year of not playing, I expected to be pretty rusty! Indeed, I made the cardinal mistake of getting the ship stuck in the winter. Nice. That was a surefire way to waste actions!
Session Overview
Play Number: 46
Solo Mode: Official Solo Variant
Required Play Space: 26″ x 24″
Setup Time: 5 Minutes
Play Time: 30 Minutes
Outcome: 15 Points (Loss)
Yes… That’s another 100% complete map! I had no idea how I pulled it off, except due to sheer luck with the order of the tiles. Technically the crew lost and may have perished, but I’m pretty sure they sailed south and lived to tell their tale. Hence, the Northwest Passage was founded!
%
60 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
10
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
8
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
9
+ Pros (Positives)
- There is a real sense of exploration and discovery as the landscape takes shape from the placed tiles.
- Some control over the water pathways helps create a rather intricate strategy around backtracking to Greenland.
- The component quality is excellent with wooden ships and sleds, as well as fairly thick cardboard tiles.
- A short, thematic paragraph sets the stage for the journey and makes the experience feel rather important.
- The solar disc acts as a unique timing mechanism, as well as the marker for where the water freezes.
- Every turn feels tense with only a limited number of actions, often further limited by the split crew.
– Cons (Negatives)
- To keep the map in a neat configuration during play can take some effort to make sure every tile is aligned.
- Some luck is needed with the large tiles in order to do well, although there are always ways to use actions.
- The solo mode is official but was strangely left out of the printed rulebook, so the game is relatively unknown.
- Keeping track of the completed islands and collected tokens can be a little tricky within the recommended rules.
Victory Conditions
Find the Passage and Return
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Complete the map in at least 1 game.
Use only the ship to explore and win in at least 1 game.
Continue the Conversation
What are your thoughts about Expedition: Northwest Passage? This might be one of my oldest games in at least a semi-regular rotation… Happy 10 years to the game! Do you enjoy any older solo games? I still enjoy this so much, even if it doesn’t seem overly complex. Everything works together perfectly and simulates the dangers of an Arctic journey.
Brilliant game, and it’s entirely because of you that I bought it. Yes it was that quest for the full map on SGOYT that did it. It looked like a cracking game from your reports and I’m happy to confirm that it is, Doesn’t hit the table often enough but when it does every game is memorable. The only one of your ratings I would disagree with is the quality of components. I would rate that a 9 instead due to it being so easy to bump the tiles you have laid and have them move. The board really, really needs a raised edge to hold tiles against. Otherwise – spot on.
I gladly take the blame, Steve! Very true about the bumped tiles. At one point this bothered me to no end, but somehow I’ve found a way to keep things organized. I usually use a pair of large tiles on opposite sides to straighten things occasionally. Still not glamorous, and I agree that a raised edge would be absolutely amazing! Thanks for the thoughtful and kind words!
Great review / report. I’m another gamer who bought this based on your experience. I’ve still to play the game. This kind of review provides me with the impetus to get the game out to play!
Thank you, Dave! I hope you have a chance to play soon. This one is so unique and fun, even though it may not look like it on the surface. Every completed map of mine has its own unique characteristics. This may have been the first time I ended up with a clear path to Greenland in the middle or along the northern edge. Too bad it didn’t get used… Next time!