Inspired by a love of classic video games, Boss Monster: The Dungeon Building Card Game pits 2-4 players in a competition to build the ultimate side-scrolling dungeon. Players compete to lure and destroy hapless adventurers, racing to outbid one another to see who can build the most enticing, treasure-filled dungeon. The goal of Boss Monster is to be the first Boss to amass ten Souls, which are gained when a Hero is lured and defeated — but a player can lose if his Boss takes five Wounds from Heroes who survive his dungeon.
Playing Boss Monster requires you to juggle two competing priorities: the need to lure Heroes at a faster rate than your opponents, and the need to kill those Heroes before they reach your Boss. Players can build one room per turn, each with its own damage and treasure value. More attractive rooms tend to deal less damage, so a Boss who is too greedy can become inundated with deadly Heroes.
Players interact with each other by building rooms and playing Spells. Because different Heroes seek different treasure types, and rooms are built simultaneously (played face down, then revealed), this means that every "build phase" is a bidding war. Spells are instant-speed effects that can give players advantages or disrupt opponents.
As a standalone card game with 155 cards, Boss Monster contains everything that 2-4 players need to play.
Boss Monster - How To Play
Boss Monster - Game Play 1
- Too dependent on luck
- Too few choices were being made
- More theme than game
- Tower Defense
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Super Boss Monster is in essence a drafting game.
- At its core, it's still Boss Monster, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
- I just can't help but wish that it went a little bit further.
- As it stands, Super Boss Monster is a smart compromise.
- both being the best entry point into this series, period.
- However, if you're looking for something that offers the same theme but is significantly more dynamic or offers more rich strategic complexity, then your prince or princess is likely to be in another castle.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Array
- Array
- boss monsters and dungeon-building in a nostalgic arcade style
- Array
- Fantasy dungeon with retro video game aesthetic
- Array
- Array
- Array
- positive
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a Kickstarter that just delivered. You know what it is? Super Boss Monster.
- This is going to be a crazy commercial.
- I am beyond excited and hyped for the lineup this year. It's going to be so crazy and I want to play this right now.
References (from this video)
- Unique theme of being the villain
- Engaging dungeon building and hero luring mechanics
- Competitive element of soul collecting and avoiding wounds
- You're the ultimate villain protecting your treasures from heroes.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players compete for heroes by having the most matching treasure symbols in their dungeon.
- card drafting — Players choose rooms to build and spells to play during specific phases of the game.
- Combat — Heroes move through dungeon rooms, taking damage, and are either defeated or reach the boss, causing wounds.
- Deck building — The game uses decks for heroes, rooms, and spells, with some cards being removed based on player count.
- hand management — Players are dealt a hand of room and spell cards and choose which to discard or build.
- set collection — Collecting specific types of treasure symbols in rooms to lure heroes.
- Variable player powers — Each boss monster has a unique level-up ability that can activate once per game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- In this episode we're going to learn the two to four player game Boss monster
- there are lots of games that take place in dungeons but usually you're the hero not this time
- instead you're the ultimate villain trying to protect your Treasures from those pesky Heroes
- Heroes will arrive in town looking to go on Quests for specific kinds of treasure
- if your dungeon is dangerous enough it will be feated there and you'll claim its Soul however if it makes it all the way through the dungeon you'll take a wound
- collect enough souls and you win the game take too many wounds and you're eliminated
- if you have any questions at all don't hesitate to put them in the comments below I'll gladly answer them as soon as I get a chance