Inspired by family trips to Sanibel Island and collecting seashells there, board game designer Elizabeth Hargrave has teamed up with Avalon Hill to create SANIBEL, a tile placement game. At the Dec. 10 SanCap Camber’s monthly business meeting, the chamber will give attendees an early look at the game before it hits shelves in January.
“Besides being the renowned creator of nature-based games such as Wingspan and Undergrove, Elizabeth grew up in Florida and has a special place in her heart for Sanibel,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer. “We’re not the only ones excited by a game that takes players on a shelling walk along Sanibel beaches. It seems the gaming community, too, anxiously awaits this exciting launch. Sanibel’s world-renowned shelling just got more famous!”
Hargrave plans on attending the local pre-launch party, which will run from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Sundial Beach Resort on Sanibel, featuring a special guest panel from Avalon Hill, a division of Hasbro. Bank of the Islands is sponsoring the event.
The game has players moving along the seashore, collecting shell tiles, and strategically placing them in their bags — earning points based on how they arrange them on the bag’s grid. Watch the ocean waves wash more shells on the shore for you to discover, take a break at the lighthouse where you’ll place special lighthouse tiles, and end your journey with a collage of watercolor shells.
“This surge of publicity for Sanibel couldn’t come at a better time as we continue to make headway with restoration and celebrate our 50th anniversary as a city,” said Lai. “I can see it becoming an important piece of island history as it goes into the new Time Capsule to be installed Jan. 10, 2026.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch SANIBEL the board game,” said Brian Baker, senior vice president of board games at Hasbro. “This game captures the heart and natural beauty of the island that inspired it, and we can’t wait for the people of Sanibel to experience it for themselves.”