Across the globe, ancient evil is stirring. Now, you and your trusted circle of colleagues must travel around the world, working against all odds to hold back the approaching horror. Foul monsters, brutal encounters, and obscure mysteries will take you to your limit and beyond. All the while, you and your fellow investigators must unravel the otherworldy mysteries scattered around the globe in order to push back the gathering mayhem that threatens to overwhelm humanity. The end draws near! Do you have the courage to prevent global destruction?
Eldritch Horror is a co-operative game of terror and adventure in which one to eight players take the roles of globetrotting investigators working to solve mysteries, gather clues, and protect the world from an Ancient One – that is, an elder being intent on destroying our world. Each Ancient One comes with its own unique decks of Mystery and Research cards, which draw you deeper into the lore surrounding each loathsome creature. Discover the true name of Azathoth or battle Cthulhu on the high seas.
While the tasks on these Mystery cards (along with the locations of otherworldly gates, menacing monsters, and helpful clues) will often inform both your travel plans and the dangers you confront, you can find adventure anywhere in the world...even where you least expect it. It is during the Encounter Phase of each turn that players resolve combat or, alternatively, build their investigators' personal stories by reading an encounter narrative from one of several types of Encounter cards. You might go head to head with a monster in Istanbul or find yourself in a tough spot with the crime syndicate in a major city. Maybe you will embark on an expedition to the Pyramids or research a clue you uncover in the unnamed wilderness. You may even find your way through a gate and explore a dimension beyond time and space.
Should you fail an encounter, the cost is steep. If you are fortunate, you will merely incur physical or mental trauma. However, you might also be compelled to take a Condition card, which represents a specific injury or restriction gained throughout your journey, such as a Leg Injury or Amnesia. You could find yourself getting in over your head to acquire assets and receive a Debt condition – or maybe you'll owe a favor to something far more insidious than a debt collector, and enter into a Dark Pact! Whatever your condition, you would be wise to find a resolution with haste; many conditions have a "reckoning effect" which, if triggered, ensure a much more sinister fate.
All the while, the arrival of the Ancient One approaches. Its malign influence is manifested in Eldritch Horror as you draw Mythos Cards, which govern the appearance of otherworldly gates, fearsome monsters, and other ominous elements. Mythos cards keep your investigators under pressure, introducing new threats, even as the arrival of the Great Old One draws nearer! Since the investigators draw a new Mythos card each round, they're certain to have their hands full battling foul creatures and following up on strange rumors, even as they work to solve their three all-important mysteries.
With twelve unique investigators, two hundred-fifty tokens, and over three hundred cards, Eldritch Horror presents an epic, world-spanning adventure with each and every game.
Images
- Spiritual successor to Arkham Horror, improving on it
- Streamlined rules and reduced bloat compared to its predecessor
- Can be scaled in size with expansions
- Pinnacle of the Ameritrash genre
- Has more content than Arkham Horror 2nd edition, making it potentially complex
- One specific expansion has a difficult-to-pronounce name
- Cosmic horror, investigation
- Arkham Horror second edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adventure/Exploration — Players move around the world collecting items and fighting monsters.
- cooperative play — Players work together against the game.
- Dice rolling for combat — Uses dice rolls for combat and other challenges.
- Mythos/Lovecraftian — Features ancient evils and cosmic horror themes.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- So, remember, if you're new here, consider subscribing to this channel and the like button and all that YouTube [ __ ] We'll see you after this.
- But without Catan, you wouldn't be playing all of those games that you think are better than this one today, right?
- So, no decent board game collection is going to be complete without a dungeon crawler, yeah?
- If you are starting your collection and you like to get smashed out your face and have a laugh, then Monikers should really be on your radar.
- So, the penultimate category is the war game, yeah.
- But the game that we think is the only one that you need to begin your collection is Twilight Imperium fourth edition.
- So, there you go. That is 10 games that we recommend that you start your collection with.
- Obviously, if you're a seasoned board gamer, then you've got absolutely no right to criticize my list.
References (from this video)
- Lovecraftian universe
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Our atmospheric sounds as you play a game can really help pull you into that theme even more.
- With music sound effects and very little effort you can add an oral element to your thumb attic board games that will really help enrich your gameplay experience.
References (from this video)
- Streamlined rules, faster combat, quicker gameplay.
- Can be finished in a fraction of the time compared to Arkham Horror.
- Allows for playing an Arkham Horror type game with time left over for another game.
- Lovecraftian
- Arkham Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Mentioned as a Lovecraftian and themed co-op game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I prefer to play multiple games as opposed to one long game
- I could scratch that euro itch without a huge time investment
- with the right game you can get that de hora experience and leave time for other games to fit in your three or four-hour window
- streamlined
- it's as if it was a match made in heaven
- it's all about getting more games in the same amount of time
- typically the phrase quantity versus quality comes up
- there's some brilliant designers able to come up with some high quality deep games that can be played in their reasonable amount of time
- I want to maximize my time as much as possible
- it's very easy for me to find games that give me the play experience i want in a shorter amount of time
References (from this video)
- Custom foam board trays are good for storage and transportation
- Trays can be taken out and used during the game
- Card tray allows for easy drawing of cards
- Different sized compartments for dice and tokens
- Room for monster tokens bag and sleeved cards
- Enough room for expansions (e.g., Forsaken Lore)
- Held up well during extreme 'gum go stop' test with minimal mix-up
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Game box inserts you know this little plastic and cardboard devices that are inside your box they have little compartments to put all your bits and pieces and cubes and cards and separate locations to make them easy to find things or take out set up put away and have their own little places to go you know those things.
- Many times our game boxes are not going to sit on the shelf and go straight to the table we're going to take them to some where we're going to to a friend's house to a game store to a convention in that case we're your game box insert do its job during all that travel.
- I don't know why Fantasy Flight the one of the largest if not the largest game publishers continues to use this insert.
- So if you ever get a game with an insert that just doesn't meet your needs you might have to go the customer out and make something yourself.
- Not having an insert is a solution for a game company and in games like this it works and I think it works just fine.
References (from this video)
- cthulhu-themed
- Arkham Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- hi everyone welcome to watch it played
- if you'd like more information you can visit Jack vassel org
- we'll bring some tasty beverages as well
- while they stab you in the back
- I didn't and I'm doing fine
- I think this is a really fun idea
- it wasn't his intention for this to be so long
- our thoughts are with him not against him in this issue
- Rich Van Meter congratulations you just won coin age
- that was super slick I like that
- so it did it was supposed to go through ups and then UPS gave it to USPS instead which I've never heard of before
- oh look at this these are Arkham Horror or Eldridge horror depending on what game you want to play with
- oh my goodness okay I have to show you guys what these are
- that's right those are fantastic
- oh this is this is a very nice gift this is Battle line
- well that is a nice little collection of loot there
- thanks for checking out those items and any other ones on there it's all for a good cause
- well everybody I hope you enjoyed that I hope you'll check out the Jack Bassel memorial fund auction and until the next episode thanks for watching
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Target being a friendly local game store? Why the mere thought is preposterous. Sacrilege, or is it?
- no a catalog of modern board games alone doesn't qualify Target as a friendly local game store. There's more to a game store than just games.
- Is the friendly local game store of the future going to change from being an independent Mom and Pop Shop to a big box retail chain? Could stores like Target and Barnes & Noble even ever technically qualify as a friendly local game store?
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's amazing that people are bringing their wargaming things and then put in a table and have them on this place that's they called yeah lots of lots of terrains all set up across the weekend across probably of the the three big warehouse rooms I think half of each of them have
- the crisis here there was like this a couple of weeks ago and I understand it's quite difficult to come across this yes yeah I don't think this is in print we can't buy in shops in Australia anymore
- I can't believe what Taryn actually got this and then showed me Finn in Texas oh my god for $30 Australian dollars of course
- we ran into Martin Wallace in the games library section yeah played a couple of prototypes of his prototype nap for wildlands which i think is that is commercially released you know isn't that same had a couple of prototype maps of that too to expand into so tried that out
- I really like that that game and the roses are beautiful the artworks great
- that's a sort of freeform racing game unlike any I've seen before it uses rather than having spaces on the tract it's just got a blank track and you use little tiles sort of war game style but you've got to do it quite quickly
- it's really cool I have not seen anything quite like that before so they'll be really good one to to keep our eyes on
- it's a little card sequence generating game you've got a few ways of you know take that to your other players so that that plays really nicely and really quickly
- it's not completely solitaire but not so much that you've got to try to strategize while watching what else is going on
- The 2019 cruise runs from the 9th to the 18th of September
- if you're not under the group code we won't get the forty people
- you know 40 people is the golden number to allow us to get a dedicated conference room for the duration of the cruise which gives us a little bit more freedom
- so we have a really small apartment um actually came today and it came with another package twelves able to hide it somewhere else and I have it on top of the cupboards I was worried when Tarrant went to the kitchen I said no no no don't go to the kitchen just like outside relax like like I'll make lunch
- we have now hit 1000 subscribers serve more than 1000 sexually by the time this video is published and we thank you so much for your support watching a subscribe to us wouldn't happen without your support
References (from this video)
- Faster
- Streamlined
- Better Arkham Horror (according to others)
- Great Old Ones made more characterful
- Mysteries were more interesting and varied
- Did not enjoy it at all
- Reduced dice pools of characters
- Reduced ability to re-roll dice
- Turns were often just rolling dice with no rerolls or ability to modify
- Felt shallower
- Core gameplay boiled down to 'turn over a card, do I roll two to four dice, if I get a five I succeed'
- Felt really flat
- Playing certain characters might be the most boring experience in board game history
- Arkham Horror
- Arkham Horror Third Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- hello and welcome to games that left my collection in 2018 this is a list of 10 games I've gotten rid of over the last year or so
- not every game needs to stay in your collection especially not if you found a game that does much the same thing only a lot better for you
- I don't have to be the one that owns everything I don't have to be the person in the group that owns every single game other people can own games and I can borrow them off them that's fine that's great
- it's actually quite neat for other people in your group to go actually this is the game I want to own I want to add this to my shelf and for you to go cool you you get that one that's awesome I don't need every single game
- the app absolutely killed my interest in playing this as a solo on the tabletop or as a multiplayer game
- all I could think was this is an improved version of Arkham Horror wow I must be totally out of line with what everyone else is thinking because I'm not enjoying this at all
- it really bugs me when the optimal way to play someone is so utterly boring
- one thing that drove me up the wall was when a character would be at one location discover a clue but then anyone could act on it so if you were on the opposite side of the map you could go and complete that assignment and it just didn't make any sense to me
- Foreclosed is just rubbish
- you either have to play down so people can learn the game or you play your ability and people just get stomped
- it's just because the groups I play with if they want that hidden Trader experience they're going to play Battle Star Galactica and shadows of Camelot just occupied much of the same space
- no game is for everyone and Through the Ages is not for me
- it's just such a time consumer there's so much fiddling around with cubes and the game just has a heck of a lot of downtime when it's someone else's turn
- my only real regret with this one is that I got rid of it just before I started the channel because despite my reservations with the game I think it's one that would do quite well as a 3-minute recap
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- i don't believe in the concept of must-have game oh this is a game you must have there's no game you must have there's no game that everyone enjoys
- you know what i i have to say i think the mountie from dead of winter is my favorite promo
- i don't want to say no very very well could be
- if you enjoyed seeing me at this convention that we're now meeting in person and we're shaking hands if you enjoy seeing the things online that you do understand you made it happen like you've literally made it happen because none of this works uh without some kind of financial support at the end
- I always say that and then I don't actually keep to it.
- You know what uh oh gosh hold on one more second oh I'm gonna get something else really the stream should be over this chat is we're closing it down in just a couple of minutes this is the last time I'm getting up it really is I promise you
- I won't belabor the story here because you should buy this book.
- I don't have a link in the description to it I'll try to think to put it there but this is a great tips and tricks guide
- I really felt like the fifth edition is really quite quite cool.
- I like what they've done with it so anyway.
- I would love a a game based on the television show the prisoner
- I highly recommend it to you go out and watch that that show it's so so good
- I would love to do a rules tutorial for twilight struggle
- it's it's a fantastic game it really is
- I am not a number that is right that is a quote from the prisoner
- I hope you stay safe wash your hands be careful keep distance from everyone
- Let's just stay safe I just want all of you to stay safe
- Stay safe out there I care about you all and I really appreciate the caring and thoughtful things that people have said to me as well
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the game I compare every single semi coop to
- I'm biased here because I like the show a lot
- what a video guys what a video we're gonna do it again next year
References (from this video)
- strong theme, good solo play option
- complex rules for new players
- Cosmic horror, investigation, and cooperation
- Lovecraftian investigators across eerie locales
- Story-driven, campaign-like investigations
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to overcome encounters and threats.
- cooperative play — Players work together to overcome encounters and threats.
- Mythos deck / encounter management — Story-driven events drive the mystery and danger.
- Skill checks / dice-based resolution — Tests driven by investigator stats and skill cards.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the empire just doesn't know where the rebel base is
- it's not really cheating if you're playing by yourself
- i would just love to try gaia project one day
- i probably could play this by myself
- the resistance the solstice another great solo
- spirit island just came in
References (from this video)
- Great for solo play due to narrative focus.
- Easy to manage multiple characters.
- Modular design offers high replayability with expansions.
- Streamlined setup and gameplay.
- Prefer solo over co-op play, but still enjoyable with others.
- Base game might only provide a couple of plays before expansions are desired.
- Investigating eldritch mysteries
- Cosmic horror
- Storytelling-driven adventure
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — This is just a straight co-op.
- Dice Rolling — You flip over tokens and you see what's there and you kind of have to interact with it in the way that you choose.
- Modular Board — The modularity of it really comes forth.
- Storytelling — It has that storytelling styling, narrative arc to it.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The expansion takes the solo game from like an eight... up to a 10.
- You have all that kind of good crunchy competitive mechanics but then whoop now we disappeared into this way crazy fantasy Indiana Jones.
- It's actually a little bit more difficult with less players... you might get your butt kicked like the first couple of times.
- Portals to alternate realities and there's like science fiction aliens and dinosaurs and snake people and Cthulhu's type monsters and you know zombies every I mean it's like everything in there.
- I would rather play this solo than with players but I would still play with players.
- I want one where I can kind of build and tweak decks all on my own don't worry about playing against other players and stuff and just you know throw them at different villains and see how they work.
- They just need to straight up reprint that sucker.
- It scratches that D&D itch like nothing else.
- It just immerses you unlike anything that I've that I've played anywhere on this list or anywhere else.
References (from this video)
- Feels like a higher-level Arkham Horror experience
- Ties clues and encounters directly to Ancient Ones
- Heroic combat allows fighting multiple monsters
- Can be fiddly with timing
- Focus is on story rather than pure heroics
- Cosmic horror, globe-trotting adventures
- Global scale
- Feels like Arkham Horror moved up a level, focused on globe-trotting and solving clues tied to Ancient Ones.
- Arkham Horror (Second Edition)
- Arkham Horror: Third Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Investigators may have decks of cards that influence their actions and abilities.
- cooperative play — Players work together to defeat the Ancient One.
- Dice Rolling — Used for skill checks and combat.
- Mythos deck — A deck of cards that drives the game's narrative and challenges.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The Cthulhu Mythos really has become one of the most important pillars of geek culture
- I think my views of the world of the universe and of humanity align more with Lumley than they do Lovecraft
- my all-time favorite author of Mythos fiction is of course Brian Lumley
- The thing that I like best you ask me if it rates when I go I went to or I didn't get make it to Origins this year but I was at Origins last year and when I went back in where they were doing the play areas where people signed up to play and I saw them one day playing four they had they didn't had they one copy and they copied it of the original Arkham Horror
- The greatest reward any game designer gets is is that people are enjoying your game
- My whole process and I start with this I always start with theme and then I go to experience this is the theme and this is the experience I want them to have and everything is built off of that
- It's hard to think back and we're going way back in time so it's hard to think back and remember who who did what but Kevin did so many uh he was so skilled at doing so many of these things
- It's not a deductive game is because you can replay the cases because I've made multi counter multiple encounter cards for everything
- It's smaller it's easier to set up it's uh faster playing and it's not nearly as fiddly as the other games
- I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed my time with this but I don't think I would encourage most people to seek it out
- I think this game has a has kind of a different feel than the other games
References (from this video)
- Still in print and a good alternative to Arkham Horror second edition
- Lots of content
- Can be bloated
- Encounters can be unfair
- stopping ancient old ones
- global
- storytelling through encounters
- Arkham Horror Second Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Rolling — Let the dice do the talking.
- Encounter resolution — Having encounters. Trying to roll successes like fives or six on the dice and don't roll them then you're Fu.
- Investigation — You're going to be taking on the role of an investigator roaming around the world trying to get Clues.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- if your top 100 ball games aren't on this list that's because a we haven't played them B we think they complete dog [ __ ]
- You could accuse Eric M Lang of copying a lot of ideas from his other games and just reimplementing them in Rising Sun but it's different enough from another couple of games that he's done for us to pick it up and keep playing it
- ordinarily I hate roll and move you must know that by now but like a lot of these games I can make exceptions for formula D
- it does tell one of the most hilarious and memorable stories that you likely to get in a board game
- This is one of those rare occasions where the theme isn't pasted on and it actually attaches itself to the mechanics of the game in a kind of sort of expert manner
- You win if at the end of the game you got more white swords on the board that and black s
- It's like a two- tiered mechanical system going on here
- It can be a little bit hairy bit like my knck sack if I run out of Lady Shavers
- The fact that you're going to be getting stuff on other people's turns and the game moves really really quickly means that there is basically zero downtime in this game here
- Eldj horror ended up with more [ __ ] babies than alucino at 86
- it's another one of those Amor trash storytelling games where sometimes you just want to sit back put your feet up and let the dice do the talking and have a good old rump around the world and not give a flying [ __ ] about what is going on around you
- If you're not really that good at fondling people's sacks then Eclipse may not be for you
- have you decided to jump off a Motorway Bridge without a trampoline I hope not
References (from this video)
- Engaging and exciting gameplay with a dramatic narrative arc.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the Restriction is supposed to be and when we moved which was a few years ago now it did get to these shelves are it get the games to fit on those shelves I think we did that and maybe had a bit of room to spare but since moving it's yeah there's a lot of extra shelves downstairs
- 300 is the mark of too much and that includes like the shelves of tiny games of the game and the C crazy
- it's size is driving it more than the numbers and as I said it's it's got a it's got to shrink down to mostly this room and there are big gaps but yeah it'll happen
- Mansions is like a cube to itself Eldritch horror is a Quee to itself
- Shadows of Brimstone that's probably the game that's it's probably tied from tied with Marvel United for a game that's taken up the most amount of space
- box size is the issue and that's why like it's so one of them may be um like Imperial like Imperial was a cool idea and a a great train game but like one of the major things it's get it's got against it is that's one whole cax Cube for that game also box size is the issue
- the game is always a favorite I think we've all got a copy of the game it never needs taken anywhere
- My number one wish list for board game arena is more Cooperative games
- I am continuously and constantly in gam castles of burgundy and I'm still no better at it
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the Restriction is supposed to be and when we moved which was a few years ago now it did get to these shelves are it get the games to fit on those shelves I think we did that and maybe had a bit of room to spare but since moving it's yeah there's a lot of extra shelves downstairs
- 300 is the mark of too much and that includes like the shelves of tiny games of the game and the C crazy
- it's size is driving it more than the numbers and as I said it's it's got a it's got to shrink down to mostly this room and there are big gaps but yeah it'll happen
- Mansions is like a cube to itself Eldritch horror is a Quee to itself
- Shadows of Brimstone that's probably the game that's it's probably tied from tied with Marvel United for a game that's taken up the most amount of space
- box size is the issue and that's why like it's so one of them may be um like Imperial like Imperial was a cool idea and a a great train game but like one of the major things it's get it's got against it is that's one whole cax Cube for that game also box size is the issue
- the game is always a favorite I think we've all got a copy of the game it never needs taken anywhere
- My number one wish list for board game arena is more Cooperative games
- I am continuously and constantly in gam castles of burgundy and I'm still no better at it
References (from this video)
- Played with many players and expansions
- Eldritch
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — Players work together to overcome the challenges of the game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Playing without Val I mean like the moment you play with Valhalla that's the moment you realize I will never not play with balla
- it is now I believe in my top 30 games of all time
- it's not a looker I mean it's just cards a board
- worst demo of any game ever with that ascendency game
- the rakugan game that's B based in uh the l5r universe
- Roller ball is an incoherent mess a jumble of footage in search of plot meaning Rhythm and sense
- I'm this close to a North American cable deal
- Roller ball has a scene where they they have to all her night vision goggles yeah but but it's like but for you know but for whatever Reon I forget the exact reason is but then the camera goes into the night vision look you know so you can see where the night vision but then they take off their night vision goggles but you continue in the night vision look
References (from this video)
- Engaging cooperative experience with strategic depth.
- Variety of encounters and character abilities offer replayability.
- Can feel overwhelming due to the number of threats.
- Reliance on luck with dice rolls can be frustrating.
- Cosmic horror
- Global
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asset acquisition — Players can acquire assets like weapons, spells, or allies through shopping or encounters.
- character abilities — Each player controls a unique investigator with special actions and abilities.
- Cultist Spawning — Cultists spawn on spaces corresponding to gate colors, acting as enemies.
- Doom track — Doom advances on the ancient one sheet, progressing the game towards a loss condition.
- Encounters — Players draw encounter cards based on their location, leading to various challenges or opportunities.
- Gate Spawning — Gates are spawned that correspond to colors on a track, leading to encounters and potential threats.
- Mystery Solving — Players must solve mysteries to progress towards defeating the ancient one.
- Omen Track — The omen track advances, triggering events and potentially advancing doom.
- Rumors — Rumor cards present objectives that, if solved, can help or hinder the players.
- Skill Tests — Players must pass tests using skills like strength, willpower, or lore by rolling dice against a target number.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The keystones of civilization have begun to crumble.
- Oh my god, the pocket watch. I had a different book. I need to get some money.
- This sucked.
- Everybody's favorite. Then six. It's my second favorite.
- The gates are trying to kill Zoe.
- He's cooked. He's dead.
- I'm going to die and like flip the thing.
- The messenger cut off all my limbs and left me to die.
- You find a ghoul who was once one of Arkham's founders and ask for his help with your handshake.
- The lead investigator is blessed.
- We won.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- When optimal play by one person makes the game unfun for everyone else, that's a structural problem.
- The trading system mitigates scarcity somewhat, but if you're locked out early, trades become prohibitively expensive.
- Harbor is one of the strongest point generation buildings in the game.
- Experienced players memorize tile distribution and calculate odds.
References (from this video)
- Epic, narrative experience
- Thematically rich with unique Ancient Ones
- Prelude cards add variability
- Engaging character interactions
- Large amount of content
- Long setup and teardown
- Dated mechanics
- Dice-heavy
- Stopping an Ancient One from awakening
- Lovecraftian horror universe
- Epic, campaign-like experience
- Arkham Horror
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose from a limited set of actions on their turn, like moving or fighting monsters.
- Character progression — Players can upgrade their characters with items and abilities.
- Condition Cards — Cards like 'Debt' or 'Dark Pact' add negative effects or choices to players.
- cooperative play — Players work together to stop the Ancient One.
- Dice Rolling — Used for skill checks and combat resolution.
- Modular Board — Different Ancient Ones and Prelude cards can alter the game setup and available locations.
- Set Collection — Collecting items and clues to aid in the fight against the Ancient One.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this one is, Hoplam is solo.
- the Pandora's Ruin uh brought in several different little things like more scions and stuff like that. But the biggest thing was the Mercury Boots campaign mode, that new campaign mode, because it switch it switched from where instead of each act lasting 12 weeks, it made each act last six weeks.
- this is my my second uh chip theory game in this segment, but you get that same deal. Chips, neoprene, plastic.
- But now each act probably takes about two or so with the Mercury deal. And that was like one of the smartest things. They listened to their their their, fans or whatever and they added that and it was the perfect addition cuz it made it a nice swallowable uh deal at that point.
- that expansion saved this game because if I had to go through it again with uh, you know, four hours per act, I it's it's miserable, dude.
- four hours of die rolling.
- I just try not to think about how much I spent.
- It's so much fun, dude.
- The amount of content definitely helps with how many heroes and villains there are.
- And the plug-and-play nature of just being like, here's who we're going to throw in.
- The system of you know this timeline element of like playing cards after other players to trigger different effects is such a cool thing.
- It's just that plugandplay nature makes this one just so much fun to play.
- I've had a blast with it.
- the games still super fun.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I think this police dog is a is a goated card.
- I think this is a very powerful card.
- Um in two to three years for a cycle to stay current and supported, I think that also means two to three years in print.
- I don't think this game is big enough to be scalpable.
- All I can say is that I personally intensely dislike the trend of scalping scalping games or anything for that matter.
- And Snakebird Priestess, that is a very funny message.
- Which is certainly there are many non-obvious signs that someone is chat GPT.
References (from this video)
- Enjoyable game.
- Do not play it often anymore.
- Would need to re-read the rules to play again.
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game is quicker to jump into.
- Lovecraftian horror
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- officially Castles of Burgundy has grown on me.
- Betrayal at House on the Hill. Everyone's like that's not a party game. It's like a game night game. I'm like well, that's what I want.
- Bad Bunnies.
- It was it was it was really it was cute. I enjoyed that one.
- Do you expect any more Kinfire Delve sets to be produced?
- I don't expect any more to be produced, but I you know, and I can't even say that I want more to be produced. I'm very happy with what we have, and I like it. I think there's so much variety already. I don't need more. But if they produced it, I'd buy it because I'm a sucker and that's what I do.
- the biggest thing that I I think still shocks me sometimes is how small the industry is. It is still very um just a bunch of friends in a lot of time in a lot of ways, you know?
- It's um in a it's a well-established industry that still has that young excitement and and kind of um um, blood in it and I I I really like that.
References (from this video)
- Cooperative nature
- Epicness and actions
- Fighting monsters
- Lovecraftian horror
- Catan
- Arkham Horror
- Cthulhu: Death May Die
- Unfathomable
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Combat — The actions involved fighting monsters, which was a key part of the experience.
- cooperative play — Yiannis T specifically mentioned his love for cooperative games as a key element that blew his mind.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Eldritch Horror was the first like really serious board game that I got into and just uh blew my mind.
- Magic is is is a rich person's game.
- It's just it's it's I think it's just not exciting for uh people who might even be wondering about the game.
- Our community on Patreon and YouTube members is honestly the reason why we're still doing it.
- We never thought about that. It's It's It always feels great when someone recognizes you, right? On the street or or or an accent.
- I would not trust myself to be 100% impartial if I have a close relationship with the publisher.
- We're we're we feel good if our community feels good, right?
- It's it's more of an art than a science.
- The audience is the most important in all all of this. So, it's important that you uh present the game accurately, cuz they will be the ones then playing that game, right?
- I'm afraid to go buy Lords of Vegas cuz I don't think it'll ever be like that again.
References (from this video)
- Cooperative nature of the game
- Epic actions and gameplay elements
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — The speaker mentioned the epic actions one can take in the game.
- cooperative play — The speaker enjoyed the ability to play cooperatively.
- Monster fighting — The speaker highlighted fighting monsters as part of the gameplay.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Eldritch Horror was the first like really serious board game that I got into and just uh blew my mind.
- First of all, cooperative games. Still, I really love cooperative games.
- That blew my mind that you can play cooperatively.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is not a you know, 4D camera, but if you could feel the heat right now, it is hot.
- This looks like the setting of a movie about to go wrong.
- I bet you their games aren't so great.
- Small little place, but with some pretty Ooh, I see some cool games in there.
- Wow, there's a lot of really cool stuff here. This is a pretty neat store here. Pretty small. Some good stuff.
- So so all of this we we keep changing except that the match over there.
- This is the first mall I've been to that has a church in it.
- Found another mass market store, and this one has some actual decent games in it.
- Well, it's kind of what I've always dreamed of.
- This is lunch!
- So, you can see lots of games. You can see they're setting up a lot of different games. Here's a whole pile here. This is going to look fantastic once it is all set up.
- I hate werewolves.
- This is going to look fantastic once it is all set up.
- The library is probably or that is where you go buy games is probably set up.
- Isn't all the volunteers, there's a bunch of them.
References (from this video)
- Great game
- Really fun game
- Great expansions
- Preferred solo or 2-3 player
- Okay at higher player counts
- Taking down Cthulhu and other elder gods and their minions
- Global
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adventure/Quest completion — trying to take down um Cthulhu and the other elder gods and their minions.
- Movement — where you're moving around the board.
- Mythos cards — Um there's mythos cards.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I love Cthulhu games. I think they're so much fun. I love that world. I've read I think I believe I've read every one of Lovecraft's stories.
- But man, I love this game. It is so much fun. I love the dice, the way you use dice in this game and how you're leveling up, but it's also driving you insane.
- So, there's a lot of replayability with these interactions between these monster boxes and the episodes. Really love Cthulhu: Death May Die. Brilliant game.
- Um Arkham Horror the board game, the second edition, which I played, never really thrilled me. I liked it, I didn't love it.
- my number one Cthulhu Mythos game of all time, Mansions of Madness second edition.
- the second edition has an app. And the app is great cuz it manages all of that stuff.
- It's a really really fun and creepy game.
- great app integration, great minis, great story that comes out of these games, and just a lot of fun.
References (from this video)
- Really intense and a proper roller coaster.
- Amazing fun.
- Cosmic horror, preventing ancient evils
- Roller coaster experience
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- GridCon was amazing. Probably the best con thing this year.
- It was really intense and a proper roller coaster and amazing fun.
- It wasn't like a great big multiplayer Arkham thing, but we played the new Midwinter Gala.
- And we ended up winning against all odds in that one.
- It's a really cool action system.
- The two-player game works is mean, and I don't like it.
- It's not a Care Bear friendly mode because it's like you place...
- But, it's nice and snappy for Nova Roma.
- I feel like I I've let myself down in round three.
- I lost sight of what was important.
References (from this video)
- Favorite in the Arkham Horror style
- Love picking random expansions and playing through
- Easy to get into and accessible
- Quick setup
- No longer creating new content
- Don't play it with six players
- Odd/even player count has a funky thing with difficulty
- Cosmic horror, Lovecraftian
- Global
- Adventurous, pulpy
- Mansions of Madness Second Edition
- Fortune and Glory
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adventure game — Involves traveling the globe, fighting monsters, and completing quests.
- cooperative play — Players work together against the game.
- Dice Rolling — Used for resolving actions and combat.
- Modular Board — Uses different maps from expansions.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this video is sponsored by game Toppers
- absolutely love this game
- just Bonkers bananas just amazing heavy Euro and I can't recommend it enough if you like that style of game
- just an absolute Beast of a game
- it's just a fun game and like I said I've played any player count two to five
- it's just it's a fun game
- this is one of those like easy Plug and Play Quick setup you know grab this deck of cards grab this extra map from one of the expansions set up and go
- this is just so different
- it's so quick and easy just to jump in and out of and play
References (from this video)
- Fantastic game.
- Highly thematic.
- Tells a nice story.
- Can become very bloated.
- Vast amount of content is overwhelming.
- Investigating and stopping Cthulhu-esque ancient ones from arriving on Earth and devouring humanity.
- Around the globe
- Arkham Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — The objective is to stop an ancient one from arriving on Earth and devouring Humanity.
- Global Movement — You'll be roaming around the globe trying to close Gates.
- Investigator Role-playing — In Eldritch Horror you'll be taking on the role of some investigators.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a channel where we give you reviews playthroughs unboxings we generally like to talk a lot of BS about table top gaming in general
- Settlers of Catan now called Katan
- Eldritch horror this took the overly bloated whale likee game called Arkham Horror and allegedly shrunk it down into a more manageable bite-sized game
- Klask is an absolute Blast for me it's more like a sport
- Carnival zombie is effectively Left for Dead The Bard game
- Eclipse a classic Euro game that is going to stay in my collection forever
- Spartacus a game of blood and treachery
- Ready Set Bet this game works best with an app
- Concordia is a fantastic game
- Lords of Waterdeep and Lords of Water Deep you taken control of essentially a middleman
- only a snob would tell you that this game is crap
References (from this video)
- The game offers a cooperative challenge suitable for two players with variants to improve movement.
- The modular nature with expansions mixed in provides variety.
- Encounters and mysteries offer narrative discovery.
- Movement can be a significant challenge in two-player games without variants.
- The game can be overwhelming with many expansions mixed together.
- The camera setup for streaming was precarious and needed fixing.
- Defending the world against the ancient one Abhaath, who sends forth its revolting children.
- Deep within the heart of Mount Vreth, the world
- Mansions of Madness
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Acquire Assets — Investigators can perform an 'acquire assets' action to gain items or allies.
- Combat — The game involves combat encounters with monsters, where investigators use stats like Strength and Will.
- Conditions — Investigators can gain various conditions, such as Debt, Madness, or Cursed, which affect gameplay.
- Corruption Conditions — Investigators can gain 'corruption conditions' which have various effects, such as gaining an eldritch token or retreating Doom.
- Doom track — The game involves managing 'Doom' which needs to be dealt with, and it advances as certain conditions are met.
- Eldritch Tokens — Eldritch tokens are placed on spaces and used to advance mysteries or trigger other effects.
- Encounters — Players draw encounter cards based on their location, which present challenges or opportunities.
- Focus action — A specific action investigators can take, often to improve their stats or gain benefits.
- Gates — Gates spawn on the board, and closing them is part of the game's objectives.
- Movement — Movement around the board is a key mechanic, often involving the use of tickets or special actions.
- Mystery Solving — Players need to solve 'three mysteries to win the game'.
- Mythos phase — A distinct phase where events occur, including advancing Doom, spawning monsters, and drawing Mythos cards.
- Preludes — The game uses 'Preludes' as part of the setup, with one chosen being 'Temptation'.
- Rest Action — An action that can be taken to potentially remove negative conditions.
- Skill checks — The game relies on skill checks (e.g., Influence, Will, Strength, Observation, Law) using dice rolls.
- Unique Assets/Tasks — Investigators have personal missions or unique assets/tasks that contribute to winning the game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- What do you want to do on your birthday? I want to play Eldritch Horror.
- The problem with playing a lot of c-ops like a lot of c-ops that are based around like getting around a big board there is balancing for the play counts but the thing that there isn't the balance for is moving around.
- When this card enters play place an eldritch token on Spaces 4, 10, 19 and 21.
- The caverns twist and turn into the depths gray ooze dripping down the rocky walls screams of those taken by the children Echo endlessly through the dark tunnels but there is no help to be had.
- Born to wealth and privilege Jenny has spent most of her young life in the most fashionable nightclubs around the world but her life of decadence came to an abrupt halt when she received an ominous letter from her sister Isabelle.
- As an encounter an investigator on Space 14 may look for Torella with an observation check if they pass they may spend Clues equal to the number of investigators go have two Clues to solve the rumor.
- It's it's pretty spot on it can't have like the special tokens like these set of ones but they're just in a bag they're all right.
- So we've saved the world from Abhaath I think pretty much we've had a decent success right with Eldritch Horror as well I think we did fail we had to call the last one the one we did at Paul's cuz we'd been playing for I think we had a three-hour window and we'd been going for 3 hours when the ancient one woke up and it was like it was pretty much it was looking over anyway so it's not like we uh we threw away a victory but uh yeah we we didn't play that one out so that's definitely a loss but generally things have gone quite well.
References (from this video)
- Plethora of characters with special abilities
- Infinite replayability
- Variety in investigator choice
- Ended up being bloated despite promising to be streamlined
- Replaced Arkham Horror for them, but Arkham Horror gets a bad rap for being too bloated itself.
- Investigating and fighting elder gods like Cthulhu
- World
- Arkham Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players roam the world trying to close gates and face the old one.
- cooperative play — Players take on the role of investigators working together.
- Variable player powers — Each investigator has a special ability.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- But today, we're going to be talking about another top 10 list.
- So, what do we mean by variable player powers? Well, I'll tell you what we mean by variable player powers. It means that each player is going to have a different ability, right?
- It's a tragedy that Forbidden Stars is out of print and it looks like it's never going to be making a comeback in its current form.
- Rising Sun is one of the best produced games we have ever played yet.
- This is a hidden traitor game.
- Blood on the Clocktower presents itself as something a little bit different to the norm, even though it isn't.
- The fact is, there's so many of these people that once again, it provides you with infinite replayability.
- And it's just wonderful playing this game for like 8 to 12 hours waiting for the variations in races to do their thing and make a compelling story for you to tell for years to come.
- Station 4 is a masterpiece of design.
- The fact that you can use other people's characters and in effect they use other people's special abilities means that this turns the variable player powers mechanism on its head and kind of pisses in its own mouth.
- All of the player abilities are absolutely [ __ ] awesome.
- There are an astonishing 238 alien. Sorry, sorry, sorry people. Sorry to offend anyone. Sentient abilities available for this game.
- Cosmic Encounter, probably one of the most popular games ever made.
- In terms of everything we've spoken about in the games we just listed, Cosmic Encounter delivers everything that they've got, but bucket loads more.
References (from this video)
- Array
- Lovecraftian horror
- Campaign-like investigation and survival
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Gloomhaven
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this video is brought to you by ascension
- BGG weight number is a community rating where literally anyone can vote between a 1 through five on how complex or heavy they think the game is
- the more I looked into this community rating system the more I didn't like it
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- mechanisms over theme for the win
- Stories can be great the first time around but I think atmosphere is way more important
- I like feeling immersed in the aesthetic and setting of a game
- if you can get someone invested in the story of what they're doing I have seen time and time again how that can increase their capacity to learn the rules because now they have a sense of motivation
- for me if a board game tries too hard to tell me a specific story it takes away from my experience
- I like ludo-narrative Harmony when mechanics match story and it's great when the story Jump Start strategy
- Ludo stands for play and narrative so it's where those two things meet
- if the story is poorly written poorly read or it was just more story than what the players were looking for it's not going to work
- English isn't my native language and others around me aren't very fluent in English and reading well
- one thing I expected with Rodney standing next to those shelves of coin games was for him to take one out and talk about how games can retell stories
- if some players really want to embrace the story of a game while others aren't in the mood for elaborate theatrics or dramatic readings those story elements they just they won't land
- I'm glad there's a wide spectrum of games to choose from so that everyone can find something that provides enjoyment for them and the other players that they game with
References (from this video)
- globetrotting pulp adventure feel
- strong art and modular expansion system
- accessible Lovecraft-inspired horror without being too grim
- can feel derivative of Arkham Horror lineage
- learning curve for new players
- cosmic horror with pulp adventure flavor
- global, pulpy science-fantasy horror adventures
- shared narrative across modular encounters and campaigns
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- app-backed/GM-like structure — scenarios with a rotating set of encounters and events.
- Cooperative Game — players cooperate as investigators to close gates and stop threats.
- cooperative play — players cooperate as investigators to close gates and stop threats.
- Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game — scenarios with a rotating set of encounters and events.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This top 10 list is a top 10 curated list and it's a little bit of a weird thing so let's talk about that for a minute.
- Hand of Fate ordeals offers up so much you so many unique qualities that I don't see in a lot of games and that's why it is on this list.
- Escape the Dark Castle is practically a party game and that's the way I like to end a long day of playing more complex and involved games.
- Popper's Ladder really is a win-win-win all around and that's why it is something that I would recommend for the family weight category.
- Eldritch Horror truly becomes a globe trotting pulp Adventure game of the highest order.
- Tales From The Red Dragon Inn is a narrative Skirmish game; it's like a Saturday morning cartoon come to life on your tabletop.
- Gloomhaven truly belongs in a collection like this.
References (from this video)
- Highly thematic and immersive
- Strong role-playing elements
- Vast amount of content with expansions
- Satisfying to play with the right group
- Long periods without playing it
- Can be hard to get to the table
- Debate over whether to read cards aloud or keep them blind
- cosmic horror
- storytelling through cards
- Arkham Horror
- Nemesis
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adventure cards — Players draw and resolve adventure cards that present narrative choices and challenges.
- cooperative play — Players work together against the game.
- Dice Rolling — Used for skill checks and combat resolution.
- Set Collection — Collecting items, spells, and clues.
- Storytelling — The game relies heavily on narrative presented through cards and player choices.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Meaningful strategic decisions that then feed into a lot of random outcomes and very entertaining random outcomes.
- The game does the best like chain reaction type experience that I think I've seen in a game.
- It feels like Ethnos meets Quacks of Quedlinburg.
- It's got the same element as a game like Quacks where you might just have a bad round drawing. But it feels even worse in this game because you're playing a big two plus hour game and have a bigger overarching strategy. So for it to really not pan out it stings more.
- Number one goes to Arcs.
- This is the marriage of those two [heavy conflict interactions and trick taking].
- When you're able to pull something off, it feels like this game is so satisfying.
- Having the cards push you in different directions and like I can't do what I want, but how can I make something work? I find a lot more kind of compelling and replayable.
- It is a very rewarding game.
- I think he even recently said it's his top game.
- So much so that he was the one that requested to put it on our wedding registry.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- hi everyone welcome back to watch it played
- but all of these were designed by unique dice towers
- I played Eldritch Horror recently with this one and there's no question about it it added to the Thematic feel while playing and these take up a very small footprint on the table when you're playing which I liked because Eldritch Horror already took up my entire table.
- this is a premium item and the real reason you want to have it is because it looks so good on the table it it brings something extra and unique
- this is a watch it PL Dice Tower
- again thanks to Unique dice towers for sending along these items for us to share with you
References (from this video)
- Insert provides plenty of room for sleeved or unsleeved cards.
- Accommodates the base game and the first expansion with room to grow.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- hi everyone welcome to watch it played
- the utterly useless insert
- it becomes a glorious mess
- I've resigned myself in most cases to just opening it up chucking that insert and then bagging everything up into Bunches of little baggies
- it's it's a nuisance
- I'm a gamer I want to get the game out and on the table and be playing it as soon as possible
- I'm always on the lookout for a better alternative
- I did want to share them with you
- so I thought this elder tour insert was excellent
- not anymore look at these trays
- so everything can be sorted and organized neatly
- and then this insert arrived
- he's done a great job once again of organizing everything
- so you can keep them like that at the table if you want I imagine that's exactly what I'm going to do
- and then when I'm ready to put it all way how simple is that going to be
- if you don't have the time or the interest to put into something like this but you have a game in your collection that you'd like to upgrade with these great great inserts then I'd suggest you check out his website
References (from this video)
- cosmic horror, investigation, and cooperation against eldritch forces
- Lovecraftian global horror and eldritch investigations
- cooperative, modular scenarios with escalating threats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Investigators work together to close gates and seal horrors.
- cooperative_play — Investigators work together to close gates and seal horrors.
- Modular Board — Mythos deck and gate system generate variable encounters.
- modular_scenario_and_mythos — Mythos deck and gate system generate variable encounters.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the first thing I do after I unbox everything of course is just throw away the sensor I know it hurts but it's for the greater good
- notice how they're both fantasy flight
- but we have Game of Thrones right here
- this is for every single faction
- the reason why they're so cool is because these dividers
- these planer boxes that they store the FFG carts so well
- these tiny ffq cards and given with sleeves they fit in this area really well
References (from this video)
- streamlined relative to Arkham Horror Second Edition
- strong thematic scope and variety via expansions
- easy to learn relative to similar games
- still complex and heavy on rules
- investigators die frequently which can slow the game or become resource constraints
- Lovecraftian eldritch investigations with investigators racing against time and cosmic forces
- Worldwide, cosmic horror inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos
- global-scale, interwoven investigations with modular decks and evolving mythos
- Arkham Horror Second Edition
- Mansions of Madness
- Cthulhu Death May Die
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to investigate locations, collect assets, and fend off monsters and mythos events.
- cooperative_play — Players work together to investigate locations, collect assets, and fend off monsters and mythos events.
- Events — Mythos phase introduces global events, monsters, and story twists.
- investigator_health_and_sanity — Investigators track health and sanity, with death tokens and consequences.
- Modular Board — Base game plus expansions add more decks (encounters, items, spells) and new complications.
- modular_decks_and_cards — Base game plus expansions add more decks (encounters, items, spells) and new complications.
- mythos_deck_and_events — Mythos phase introduces global events, monsters, and story twists.
- pre_set_up_board — On-table setup is designed to minimize downtime and focus on gameplay.
- Variable Set-Up: Board — On-table setup is designed to minimize downtime and focus on gameplay.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a game that replaced arkham horror second edition for me i think it is the battery of the two games
- i love these small box expansions as a matter of fact these are the only expansions i have for the game
- once you have the game set up on the table you really never have to go back in the box to dig through other components
- the investigators die a lot the investigators in this game really are kind of a resource
- Mansions of Madness and Cthulhu Death May Die are another one of his popular series
References (from this video)
- High-quality components and art
- Strong Lovecraftian atmosphere and theme
- Deep narrative potential and role-playing feel
- Expansions notably increase variety and replayability
- Heavy complexity and lengthy setup
- Balance issues and repetitive encounter decks
- Healing is limited and some investigators feel disadvantaged
- Encounters can feel loosely tied to the Ancient One
- Downtime can be significant at larger player counts
- Lovecraftian cosmic horror with humanity confronting ancient beings
- 1920s global globe-trotting investigations across cities and gateways to other worlds
- emergent, encounter-driven narrative formed by decks and scenarios
- Mansions of Madness
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character progression and backstories — Investigators gain items, allies, and abilities that reflect their backstories.
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to research clues, close gates, and defeat the Ancient One.
- cooperative play — Players work together to research clues, close gates, and defeat the Ancient One.
- Debt mechanic — Debt can be taken to acquire powerful items when funds are short.
- Doom/doom tracker and gate/monster spawning — Mythos phase advances the doom track and spawns threats across the globe.
- Double-sided cards — Spells and conditions use front/back faces to add tension and uncertainty.
- Encounter deck and Mythos deck — Cards drive events, with double-sided cards hiding outcomes until triggered.
- Expeditions, research encounters, artifacts — Multiple decks provide artifacts, spells, and side quests to enhance play.
- Loans — Debt can be taken to acquire powerful items when funds are short.
- Multi-Use Cards — Spells and conditions use front/back faces to add tension and uncertainty.
- Skill checks and dice rolls — Encounters resolve via skill checks using dice to determine outcomes.
- Two-action turns per investigator — Each investigator typically performs two actions per turn; encounters interrupt the flow.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Eldritch Horror is a cooperative globe-trotting experience.
- The Lovecraftian theme with flavor text and wonderfully drawn art from every piece is amazing.
- The stage is set up to allow great scenarios for you to imagine the world and your investigators' place within it.
- It's called Cthulhu: The Role-Playing Game combined with a cooperative board game.
- The six out of ten is mainly because we're evaluating just the out-of-the-box experience since it's definitely not as good as it could be and needs expansions.
- Expansions are absolutely mandatory; Forsaken, etc., to patch up the vanilla experience.
- Healing is very difficult since at most you can recover only one health and one sanity.
- Lovecraft should not be a rigid puzzle to be solved but rather should strap you in for an ominous ride so you're never quite feeling safe in between the mysteries.
- I can't rate Eldritch Horror lower than an 8 out of 10.
- I personally give Eldritch Horror a 9 out of 10.
References (from this video)
- Rich theme
- High replayability
- Complex rules
- Long play time
- Array
- Horror mystery investigations across global locales
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players collaborate to defeat shared threats and solve mysteries
- cooperative play — Players collaborate to defeat shared threats and solve mysteries
- Deduction — Clues and story elements drive progression of the mystery
- Investigation / Story Elements — Clues and story elements drive progression of the mystery
- Unique Player Powers — Investigators each have unique abilities affecting play
- Variable player powers — Investigators each have unique abilities affecting play
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this isn't what i meant by board games
- this is just kind of boring there's not enough going on
- it's only been like five minutes
- Relax dude it's just a board game aren't these like 10 bucks
- thanks for watching the video guys this video was inspired by ideas from
References (from this video)
- Global exploration with Lovecraftian flavor
- Cooperative play against a common threat
- Array
- Global Lovecraftian mysteries, racing around the world to prevent Great Old Ones
- Collaborative investigation with global scale
- Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition
- Eclipse
- Star Wars Rebellion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Actions — Players work together to solve mysteries and defeat ancient beings
- cooperative investigation — Players work together to solve mysteries and defeat ancient beings
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- ameritrash games are just better than euro games they just are
- minis the minis
- this is ameritrash
- you might as well just all play your little crossword puzzle or just play actual solitaire
- dead of winter this is this frigid iceland there's so many things to fight other humans zombies mutated monsters
- twilight imperium the fourth edition
- i can control imperial star destroyers atats and there's even a death star
- you travel across the globe from london to rome to africa to solve these mysteries to defeat the legendary Shub
References (from this video)
- Epic scope and strong storytelling
- Many expansions and campaign options
- Can be long and heavy for new players
- Setup and maintenance-intensive
- cooperative eldritch horror across the world
- Lovecraftian global mystery
- epic storytelling, globe-trotting
- Arkham Horror
- Mansions of Madness
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to resolve an overarching threat
- cooperative play — Players work together to resolve an overarching threat
- Expansions and scenarios — Rich ecosystem of adventures and add-ons
- Modular Board — World map with encounters across many locations
- Modular map with large scope — World map with encounters across many locations
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- that's number 50, that's Stone Age
- Just One is really a party game to me
- it's app assisted... and the stories evolve
- Monk ala... activate all these other spots on the board
- it's almost like watching a TV show
- the app lets you hint and push through
- Steam has two sets of rules - advanced and normal
- Unlock is probably for me my favorites of this sort of escape room puzzle solving thing
- Airlines Europe is almost like a train game but it's an airline game
- Eldritch Horror... big map and globe-trotting encounters
References (from this video)
- highly thematic and atmospheric; strong narrative feel
- expansions improve depth and replayability
- robust cooperative framework with memorable investigations
- heavy and long; can be exhausting for new players
- learning curve and rule overhead can be daunting
- cooperative horror investigation
- Lovecraftian mythos; global, globe-spanning investigations
- story-driven investigations with a thematic arc
- Mansions of Madness
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card-driven encounters and dice — encounters are resolved via cards and dice, driving narrative outcomes
- Combat: Dice — encounters are resolved via cards and dice, driving narrative outcomes
- Cooperative Game — a team of investigators works together across a global board
- cooperative play — a team of investigators works together across a global board
- expansions enhance and tailor play — expansions introduce additional tokens, focus mechanics, and new scenarios
- investigator mortality and madness — investigators can be defeated or go insane, with the game continuing for the remaining investigators
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really interesting little puzzly game
- it's tactile in a way
- there are a lot of different decisions to puzzle out within a single game
- Fail Forward is terrific
- there's a world to explore that you can keep coming back to
- the system where you always succeed helps it not feel pointless
- it's almost just like a generic euro with a time travel twist
- the vibe of Vagrant Song is like 1920s rubber hose animation
- it's a proper campaign and finishing it feels satisfying
- art direction and the acrylic standees are really nice
References (from this video)
- Strong thematic atmosphere
- Cooperative play yields shared narrative
- Expansions add variety
- Heavy and lengthy sessions can be demanding
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Cosmic horror, investigation, eldritch menace
- Global Lovecraftian horror across the world
- Cooperative, narrative-driven
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to close gates, seal horrors, and thwart eldritch threats
- cooperative play — Players work together to close gates, seal horrors, and thwart eldritch threats
- Investigator abilities and items — Investigators have unique abilities and equipment to manage encounters
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a sandbox game so what you choose to do in G is up to you
- Root is basically my favorite game of all time
- replayability is infinite as much as it can be
- this is a classic
- it's a juicy beefy top Dungeon Crawler on the market
- HeroQuest what a Legendary game
References (from this video)
- Unknown
- Unknown
- Unknown
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- unknown — Unknown
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The common thread here is that all of these games held crowdfunding campaigns.
- The common thread here is that all of these games feature voting as a key mechanism.
- We make the rules. We decide the winners.
- If you were able to get three, four, or all five of those common threads, let us know and we will deduct your point and give you the credit.
- Voting is kind of like negotiation.
References (from this video)
- Rich thematic flavor and expansive scope
- Lots of content and replay value
- Cooperative tension is satisfying
- Very punishing when mistakes are made
- Can be fiddly and long to play
- Cosmic horror with global scale and timer
- Global investigation of Lovecraftian horrors
- Cooperative play with a world-spanning threat
- Arkham Horror
- Gloomhaven
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to prevent the world-ending threat
- cooperative play — Players work together to prevent the world-ending threat
- Event-driven puzzle — Puzzles and encounters become harder as the timer advances
- Investigation and events — Travel to sites, resolve encounters, and read flavor text
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the expert game category so you're going to be head first into it
- it's Star Wars in a box, it's absolutely brilliant
- this is a huge long heavy game
- everything cascades from one mechanism to the next
- the theme and production are incredible
- you'll be talking about it until you play the next game
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's mostly going to be like a check it out yes if we have played it or not
- the counter for how many games that we have played
- we are inspired by Foster Maple Series
- it's a free world and you can comment on stuff
- we have played it and we own it
References (from this video)
- vast variety of scenarios, strong thematic integration, memorable comeback moments
- rules can be dense, can feel grindy between peaks
- cooperative mystery with high randomness and situational swing
- global mythos-driven investigations across exotic locales
- big sandbox horror with episodic mysteries and varying outcomes
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Petersen-era Arkham Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative campaign — players work together to solve mysteries and prevent eldritch threats, with variable encounters
- highly swingy randomness — encounters and results swing based on cards and dice, creating huge highs and lows
- long form campaign rhythm — campaign-style play with evolving threats and player progression
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the narrative it does ends up being a fun experience
- it's the story. there's almost I find when I'm playing it and horrible things are happening
- through the ages... a grand historical journey
- epic and full-day experience
- you can draft up to your point level and duke it out to the end
References (from this video)
- Deep Lovecraftian theme and immersion
- Strong narrative and modular encounters
- High replay value with scalable difficulty
- Complex rules can be intimidating to new players
- Sometimes long setup and downtime
- mythos horror, ritual threats
- Lovecraftian global mythos; investigators travel the world
- story-driven investigations with escalating dread
- Horrified
- Cthulhu: Death May Die
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- global map with events — world map encounters drive the narrative and threats
- investigator skills and tests — characters have varied skill checks and encounters to overcome
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Cooperative games are normally like very thematic.
- you’re not playing against each other you’re trying everybody together to solve the mechanic to solve the problem.
- it's a really friendly game that will everybody try to win or lose together.
- the desert moves around and blows around the desert… the desert is actually trying to kill you.
- it’s brutally punishing.