by OldSoulDean
This review is inspired by BGG user, [user=Olafslomp]Olaf Slomp[/user], and I was given permission to use their style of review as my own. I highly recommend you check out reviews posted by Olaf!Even though long, extensive reviews seem to be the most popular reviews on BGG, I often find myself only reading the conclusion of a review because I want a high-level summary of why someone likes a game. These quick summaries give me insights into why this game may or may not be worthwhile.
I prefer quick overviews where I can get some insights into why this game may or may not be attractive to me.
My reviews are targeted at a similar audience, and consist of my pros and cons coming from:
1) First impressions (before playing my first game)
2) Impressions after the first game
3) Current feelings (after at least 10 plays)
First impressions
+ I like Dungeons and Dragons. A game that is made by Wizards of the Coast seems attractive. Especially the mechanic about exploration.
+ Similarly, a game that tells a story is attractive.
+ The first time I played this, a game that starts cooperative but ultimately the players end up fighting against each other (usually) was fascinating.
Impressions after the first game
+ Wow, the betrayal mechanic is so cool. Based on your game environment, the are so many scenarios that could possibly happen in the second half of the game.
- The components, especially the cardboard tiles, seem to be of less quality.
+ The anticipation of unveiling new cards and reading them to fellow players was quite fulfilling.
Current Feelings (11 plays in)
+ This game is most fun with people who have never played before. Experiencing the game through new eyes again is fun to watch.
- With an experienced group of players, it begins to seem repetitive, even with many betrayal scenarios available, the first half of the game to get there is not as fun.
- When the betrayal happens, sometimes the rules can be hard to follow for both the survivors or the betrayer.
Final Thoughts (as of 12/3/24)
This game burns bright during the first few plays. After a while, it begins to feel stale. By 10 plays, it definitely feels repetitive. The game can almost be viewed similarly to an escape room. It is vastly enjoyable at first, but eventually it becomes mundane as compared to other games. It is a great game that has the potential to tell some really cool stories, it just isn’t one that can be sustained over multiple plays. It remains in my collection as a gateway game for people who have never played this style of game before.
