/pic7083310.jpg)
Game Info
Year
2019
Collection
Ratings
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
THE GREAT RETURN
Over generations and generations the ancient woodland of Børe prospered and grew. The world was bestowed with great spirit, which lifted the animals of the land to new heights. Unfortunately, over the years these clans lost touch with the spirit of the land and faction warring developed. The Foxen Kingdom of Skulk Hollow in the South, The spiritual Red Pandas of Cupboard in the North, the Mischievous Mice of Multon in the West, and the colony of Blackheart Bunnies in the East. As skirmishes started breaking out across the continent, lives lost, there was a monstrous shake and then The Great Return. No one quite knows why, but the Guardians have risen - but not the kind, life-giving Guardians of spiritual legend. Dark, ferocious, versions that are now attacking all the kingdoms of the land.
OBJECTIVE
In Skulk Hollow, two players take the roles of either a towering behemoth of a Guardian trying to eliminate the clans of foxes who have been causing havoc on the countryside, or a band of foxen heroes out to vanquish the evil beast that has been terrorizing the land and reunite the four kingdoms of Børe.
The Guardian wins the game by either eliminating the Foxen King, or by gaining enough Tribute.
The Foxen Heroes wins the game by eliminating the Guardian.
GAMEPLAY
Skulk Hollow is a 2-player, asymmetric, tactical combat game. Player use action cards to move their units, summon, and use special abilities. Taking down a guardian requires the Foxen player to leap onto the Guardian player board and take out different parts of the character.
Featured Videos
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 15
This page: 15
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–15 of 15
Video Bv7DOLv30h4
Board Game Sanctuary Review at 1:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 109910 · mention_pk 316193
Click to watch at 1:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Captures nostalgia and conceptual idea of boss battles.
- Asymmetric goals and objectives make the game tactical, decisive, varied, and highly interactive.
- Players have a huge element of control and binary decision-making.
- The game forces players to face each other head-to-head.
- Playing with different leaders for the Foxen Heroes freshens things up.
- Power cubes provide flexibility and scope for executing action moves.
- The map feels intentionally closed and restricted, creating a tense environment.
- Thematic, yet inventive concept of heroes leaping onto giant beings.
- Limitless scope for future expansions, maps, and Guardians.
- Synergy between maps, cards, and player interaction creates a fun, yet tense experience.
- The push-push effect keeps the game tense and entertaining.
- Variety of win conditions for Guardians offers different strategies.
- Immense scope for openness when acting and responding to situations.
- Gorgeous art.
- Simplicity and approachability make it a fun tactical game at a two-player level.
- Can never have too many two-player board games.
- Recommended and should be picked up.
Cons
- Plays with a maximum of two people, so not suitable for larger groups.
- If playing as the Foxen Heroes time and time again, they can feel a little bit too simplistic and repetitive.
- Slight element of chance in card draw can lead to situations with unwanted or missing cards.
Thematic elements
- David versus Goliath-style battle
Comparison games
- Root
- Maul Peak
- Shadow of the Colossus
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Heroes traverse the Guardian, inflicting wounds on specific regions to disable actions.
- Asymmetric gameplay — One player controls the Foxen Heroes, while the other controls one of four giant-sized colossal Guardians, each with unique objectives.
- Card-driven actions — Players use a deck of action cards, each split into two sections offering a choice between two actions.
- Combat — Heroes inflict damage on the Guardian, and Guardians attack heroes.
- Deck Building — Players churn through their deck of action cards to take desired actions.
- Resource Management — Power cubes acquired allow players to take additional actions without spending extra cards.
- Set Collection — One Guardian's win condition involves collecting four rune tokens.
- token placement — One Guardian's win condition involves placing out all six root tentacles on the map.
- Variable player powers — Foxen Heroes select a leader with unique abilities, and each Guardian has its own unique deck and playstyle.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- SKULL HOLLOW IS A two-player asymmetric game where one player takes on the role of the Foxen Heroes and the other player takes control of one of four giant-sized colossal Guardians.
- The game Skull Hollow capitalizes on both this nostalgia and conceptual idea of how a boss battle works and reforms it into a board game.
- The map itself feels intentionally closed and restricted, forcing each player to feel as though they're getting in each other's way and there's not much room to escape.
- On a colossal rage scale of 1 to infinity, this game is completely off the charts.
- I absolutely love this two-player game.
- This is one that I definitely recommend and definitely think that you should pick up from your local game store.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ehDF0mJZBC8
Board Game Sanctuary Top List at 6:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 109889 · mention_pk 316137
Click to watch at 6:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Offers a unique asymmetrical gameplay experience.
- Evokes a strong sense of overcoming adversity for heroes and dominance for guardians.
- Visually impressive components.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Heroes vs. giant guardians, reminiscent of boss battles
Comparison games
- Shadow of the Colossus
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Use of power cubes helps heroes gain bonus actions.
- Area Control — Spreading roots around the game map or having units in certain areas.
- asymmetrical gameplay — One player takes on the role of the fox and heroes, the other takes on gigantic monstrous guardians.
- Deck Building — Heroes use their deck of cards, guardians use their deck of cards.
- Mortal Combat Style Battle — Players pit their melee and ranged skills in a battle to the death.
- win condition — Heroes win by hitting weak spots and nullifying actions. Guardians win by satisfying unique win conditions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Two player board games are some of the most commonly played games in my collection because it's really often quite hard to get a bigger group of people together for a game night
- In this video we look at my five favorite next level meteor to play games that probably will tear your relationship into
- This game truly encompasses what a really good Star Wars game should feel like especially if you're a fan of the original movies
- I hope these five board games have provided you an extra insight into some meteor two-player games you can add to your board game collection
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video So-EknuYxdo
The Mill Discussion at 3:37 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 89940 · mention_pk 239687
Click to watch at 3:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i would love it i would love it i would love it
- i would love to talk to you about name sale i would love to find out for sure what that is
- we're not reprinting libertalia we're not doing it that's not what this means
- hey can i have a red rising poster like i just i love the artwork for that game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 100uIPQylR0
kovray Review at 23:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89542 · mention_pk 238022
Click to watch at 23:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Stunning miniatures and art
- Clever design
- Thematic gameplay
- Close games
- Variability through different guardians
- Cross-compatibility
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Fox and tribe vs. Guardian
Comparison games
- Rift Forces
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — gain control of different spaces so that in the spaces they surround will be how you control
- asymmetrical gameplay — It's very asymmetrical
- Card Play — simply a card playing games you'll play cards to move across the map to jump onto the guardian to protect yourself as the guardian and essentially take the other opponent out
- One vs Many — it's basically just a combat game where it's like one versus many but the one player is controlling the many
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's very asymmetrical the miniatures in this is stunning the art in this is stunning it's a very clever game
- it's so clever it's so thematic
- the games tend to be like super close down to the last play
- i love that it's gonna be cross-compatible because it's just it's such a like it's a great experience to kind of elevate to four players
- it is one of my favorite two-player games
- the waze design is just extremely skillfully it's one of the most elegant and beautiful games in the two-player variety
- i think the theme really shines out too because basically it's like technology versus nature industrialization yeah
- i think one of the most underrated two-player games in my opinion
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZJxuuQld12I
Gaming with Edo & Jessica Analysis at 3:01
video_pk 89511 · mention_pk 237881
Click to watch at 3:01 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i wanted to take a break from kickstarter not because i had any problem with kickstarter per se though there has been drama around with their web 3 and blockchain stuff just for another video but um because i didn't have clarity or confidence in manufacturing shipping timing expense costs and i didn't want to do a kickstarter being a commitment that i felt like i was obligated to meet which you should be but that we wouldn't be able to do it
- i was sitting on a deluge of unpublished ready to go stuff
- you know we took a a large gamble
- the upfront cost of producing for of of developing this is limited
- ultimately i felt like well this is our opportunity to draw people to our web store
- this is like pre-order and then within six weeks you're gonna get your game and then we'll release it to retail and that's really exciting it's just exciting to have somebody buy something they're they are interested and get it somewhat soon as opposed to kickstarter where you can wait a year
- really the whether or not this risk was worth it and and and all things consider is going to come down to how delicious done
- seven thousand though is incomparable to what we've been doing in these titles in that typically from the kickstarter you'll sell about fifteen hundred to two thousand
- it's going to come down to a market response
- you know if if if you don't want to pay shipping you just some sort of water isn't going to be an option internationally because it's not going to be in retail
- cool experiment don't want to do it again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bo_-r9e9qQo
Gaming with Edo & Jessica Analysis at 6:04
video_pk 86279 · mention_pk 222807
Click to watch at 6:04 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The platforms Market games everything's changing all the time so it's it's just important as a Creator as somebody doing kick kickstarters to both understand sort of what works and what's what's what's stable and all the places where things have changed or or um opportunities for improvement or new ways of doing things Etc
- Vineyard is um a shared worker placement an action selection game so it's a little bit of like uh worker placement where we're all managing the same workers throughout the Vineyard and we're all working to go through this wine making process um and it has action selection I'll Concordia where you're sort of picking up cards and playing them down but it's based on your workers and you could upgrade the cards and upgrade the workers super super fun
- we're going to be participating in kickstarters pledge manager so that's um uh you know I don't know how we're not the first certainly but it's a smaller set of groups right now I don't think it's fully rolled out but we are going to be use their integrated uh uh uh pledge manager and that's different than pledge manager so we pre last campaign it was new we used pledge manager which had some integration with Kickstarter but it was like this real like oh uh our hookup just lets Kickstarter like send us their the information but it's but it's still just our own system
- It's not a 20 304 you know it's a little bit more of a big box game and it'll be more expensive at retail so
- the real stuff is that Kickstarter stuff all that under the hood stuff is very different the actual page I think is pretty common to what we're doing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jnkwqUo7f_4
The Cardboard Herald Discussion at 1:10:31 sentiment: other
video_pk 85100 · mention_pk 217461
Click to watch at 1:10:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Lacks interesting decisions and feels repetitive.
Pros
- Interesting premise of a large beast vs. small factions
Cons
- Conclusion is often predictable
- Feels like performing the same actions every game
- Lacks strategic variety
- Can feel like watching the same movie on repeat
Thematic elements
- Beast vs. Factions
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Implied by factions trying to climb on top of the beast.
- Asymmetric powers — One player controls a large beast, the other controls smaller factions.
- Combat — Factions attempt to defeat the beast.
- Predictable Game State — The conclusion of that game was always predictable.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that there are a lot of games that even if they're not built specifically for two players, the draw to play those games that was there at four players or three players is still there at two players.
- I think that some parts of Aries expedition becomes a lot stronger at two players than it does at three or four players.
- I have my sandbox, you have your sandbox. This can be great at two players.
- Well, let me tell you, nothing is going to create a marital uh battle like someone not being entirely focused on a game of sale.
- I can kind of be doing something else while playing.
- So to me, Ark Nova is ideal for two players.
- Peak Spirit Island is two-player or two spirit if you're playing solo and you have uh and you want to do double-handed
- However, it's too bigrain for me to feel like I'm up for that.
- I just like them at two players. You know, I don't need the extra player count. That's the right amount of opposition that I need for those.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5fn_QPQXbPM
Board Game Buzzz Top 100 List at 13:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85027 · mention_pk 217135
Click to watch at 13:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Thematic, cute artwork
- Fun monster combat with multiple monsters
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- cute, cartoonish combat and monster mechanics
- fantasy map with foxes vs monsters
- thematic, monster-battling gameplay
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- combat resolution — foxes attack monsters by moving on a map and timing jumps
- thematic_production — cohesive art and components with monster variety
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love it because it's very thematic.
- Oathsworn is a fantastic game.
- I fell in love with this game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EKy_28ZnPtg
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:00
video_pk 68144 · mention_pk 164502
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Fox and hero player will be facing a gigantic enemy which they'll have to scale an attack in an effort to defeat it
- The game is played over a series of turns beginning with the Fox and hero player and then going back and forth until one of them have reached their wind condition ending the game in their victory
- these ancient relic tokens... can spend each one at any point during a turn removing it from the game to get an additional action
- note each guardian has a special ability that's shown here for example if crack has nine or more wounds at the beginning of its turn the Guardian player can perform one additional action
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GKsoqoHs6Mo
The Mill Playthrough at 0:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62874 · mention_pk 155657
Click to watch at 0:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Monster attacking is thematically appropriate
- Nice synergy with other Realms
- Interactive resource payments with doubles
Cons
- Doubles in Skulk Hollow can be undesirable; it can be tricky
Thematic elements
- guardian attacks and skull color mechanics
- thematic with monster/guardian interaction
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- doubles trigger guardian attack — If you roll doubles, the guardian will attack you.
- roll-based resource payment to gain benefits — You roll a number and pay the resource cost to gain the target's benefits.
- target elimination if unmarked — If the target is unmarked, it is immediately eliminated; you can still buy the bonus (e.g., star).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the monster attacking is quite thematic
- I really like all three of these realms
- for these three rounds 15.2 was the score to beat
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uxs29t1EL-g
Gaming with Edo & Jessica Interview at 0:27 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 11332 · mention_pk 33324
Click to watch at 0:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Part of the early career in board game content creation; strong social/community angle
Cons
- Little concrete mechanical detail provided in the interview; uncertain publisher/designer data
Thematic elements
- Exploration and social interaction within a thematic world
- Fantasy woodland setting implied by a prior mention and general vibe of the game, discussed in context of first contact with the designer/producer
- Open-ended, campaign-like potential with a strong narrative component
Comparison games
- Unknown
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign progression — Implied long-term arc when referenced as a first contact game in early career
- Social/initiative play — Player interaction and persuasion dynamics implied by early discussion and crossing paths
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i decided i was going to do a lot of promoting of other people's products
- the energy that i can give to a product
- we're a team we're a great team
- just do it man just do it
- the next ones we're gonna loosen it up attack too hard
- you make content here that's it and when i joined man vs meeple i was very clear
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GgXOgd1R8Z8
Gaming with Edo & Jessica Discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9547 · mention_pk 120646
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High production quality (spot UV, sturdy heft, double-sided board)
- Excellent visual appeal of guardians and components
- Detailed map with backstory and stretch-goal art
- Clarity in rule design and durable components
Cons
- Very large box may be cumbersome for storage/shipping
- Some pre-production decisions (e.g., card sleeving) clarified as not individual card sleeves
- Manufacturing not yet started at proof stage
Thematic elements
- Arcane exploration and guardian-themed expedition
- Fantasy adventure setting centered on Skull Hollow with guardians and relics
- Mythic lore with backstory hints on map and components
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building — Players construct and use a deck of cards representing actions and encounters.
- piece/token management — Tokens and unique pieces define gameplay state and scoring.
- Set Collection — Players collect themed components (bones, hearts, foxing cards) to score points.
- tile/board placement — A double-sided modular board provides varied layouts for exploration.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the print proof for skull Hollow I'm going to be doing a review
- spot UV coming in nicely there
- this is feeling really nice
- Guardians look at these these just look really nice
- I am thrilled with how this looks
- behemoth of a game
- there's so much going on that we wanted to make sure it was all awesome
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dd0RrpkA-3k
Board Game Spotlight Playthrough at 0:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5565 · mention_pk 16551
Click to watch at 0:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Gorgeous production values, with striking art and a standout insert that organizes components efficiently.
- Strong, well-executed asymmetric design that provides deep tactical decisions for both sides.
- Clever board geometry and tentacle-based win condition create satisfying spatial gameplay.
- Deck design and multi-use cards enable flexible action planning and effective cycling.
- Beautiful thematic flavor, with inspirations drawn from epic fantasy and iconic visuals like Shadows of the Colossus.
- Expansion potential (relics) offers a path to extend the two-player experience without breaking the core balance.
Cons
- Limited to two players, which excludes larger-group play and may deter some players seeking variable player counts.
- Learning curve can be steep for newcomers to asymmetric, card-driven duels, and there can be analysis paralysis on complex turns.
- Some players may prefer a faster pacing; the deep planning required can slow down the flow in casual sessions.
Thematic elements
- Asymmetric duel in a mythic-fantasy setting, focusing on territory control, direct interaction via positioning, and a tense, escalating contest between two distinct play styles—rapid, aggressive expansion for the Fox in Heroes and stout, patient defense for the Guardians.
- Skulk Hollow is set in a dark, creature-infested realm where two factions—the Fox in Heroes and a family of Guardians—contend for control of a patchwork, hex-ish board. The map is designed with a corner-to-corner orientation rather than a traditional edge-to-edge layout, emphasizing tactical placement, ambush opportunities, and territorial defense. The Guardians occupy lairs and space across the board, while the Fox in Heroes defend their homeland and attempt to strain the Guardians’ hold by extending their influence through tentacle-like growth and controlled incursions.
- A compact, descriptor-driven fantasy narrative inspired by classic epics and monster-hunting folklore. The game evokes Shadows of the Colossus feel through the sense of vertical scale, climactic confrontations between colossal foes and lone defenders, and a focus on dominating space through calculated, dramatic maneuvers.
Comparison games
- Lord of the Rings: Confrontation
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action economy — On a turn, players receive a limited number of actions and must decide how to allocate them among moving, attacking, healing, or manipulating the board. The combination of top/bottom actions and card cycling creates a rich set of tactical possibilities each turn.
- Area Control — The Fox in Heroes attempts to place six tentacles on the board across Guardians’ spaces. Each tentacle placement advances the Fox toward victory, while Guardians may counter by blocking or targeting opponent pieces to thwart progress.
- area control / tentacle placement — The Fox in Heroes attempts to place six tentacles on the board across Guardians’ spaces. Each tentacle placement advances the Fox toward victory, while Guardians may counter by blocking or targeting opponent pieces to thwart progress.
- Asymmetric play — Skulk Hollow is designed so that the Fox in Heroes and the Guardians do not share the same victory conditions, abilities, or deck compositions. Each side has a unique set of actions, goals, and interactions that shape strategic choices and shift the balance of power as the board state evolves.
- board orientation and geometry — The board’s 90-degree corner-to-corner orientation creates a distinctive spatial dynamic. This layout influences how players plan routes, block lanes, and exploit distance for ranged versus melee interactions.
- combat resolution — Damage and wounds are tracked on individual units. Defeating key enemy pieces or disabling their abilities can swing the course of the game, with some actions capable of removing or reducing enemy options.
- deck cycling and draw — Discarding cards allows players to draw more cards, enabling faster access to critical actions. This mechanic reduces the chance of being stranded with unusable cards and keeps the rhythm of play steady.
- Hand Management — Players manage a hand of multi-use action cards. Each card typically provides a top action and a bottom action, and players must choose how to sequence these options across turns. Discarding can draw new cards, enabling deck cycling and targeted searches for key tools.
- leader and guardian interaction — Guardians and Fox units feature unique leadership abilities and guardian-specific events. These systems reward careful timing and positioning, and create moments of dramatic turn-tabling interactions.
- Movement and interaction — Movement is governed by action cards and may involve leaping, pulling, or shock effects. Interacting with opposing units can disable or modify their abilities, adding a layer of direct confrontation beyond pure positioning.
- resource cubes and healing — Power cubes serve as a resource that can be spent for extra actions or healing. End-of-turn distribution to characters provides ongoing strategic value and encourages careful resource management.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is my favorite pencil-first game yet.
- I love this game; I think this is one of the best two-player games that came out this year.
- This game is absolutely gorgeous.
- The insert is amazing; you have a spot for all the top boxes and it fits in the box with everything else.
- If you're into two-player games and you love asymmetric design, this game is totally worth it.
- It's a fantastic two-player game if you play mostly two-player games.
- This game is a knockout for two players who want deep, tactical duels with beautiful components.
- I think this is one of the best you-player games that came out this year.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KNj8YljzUtc
The Cardboard Herald Review at 0:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5028 · mention_pk 14910
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic cohesion: the foxen versus guardians premise is immersive, with striking visuals and a cinematic feel that pulls players into the world.
- Distinct guardian asymmetry and victory conditions encourage varied playstyles and high replay value.
- Aesthetic quality is excellent: large, wood-toned guardian minis with tactile design and evocative tentacle motifs that enhance immersion.
- Approachability and clarity make it accessible to a broad audience, including families and newer gamers.
- Power-cube mechanic introduces meaningful, scalable decisions that influence multiple future turns.
- Foxen unit roles offer tactical choices within a compact action space, allowing for meaningful planning and counterplay.
- Even in defeat, watching the unfolding board state remains engaging and satisfying due to the cinematic feel.
- Despite its simplicity, the game rewards thoughtful positioning and timing, yielding satisfying micro-decisions.
Cons
- Foxen flavor and long-term strategic depth feel thinner than the guardian side, creating an asymmetry in perceived weight.
- Deck randomness can undercut long-term planning and reduce predictability, potentially diminishing the sense of mastery for some players.
- Limited expansion of fox hero options may restrict flavor variety and asymmetrical storytelling across games.
- While accessible, some players may crave deeper systems or more dynamic interactions between foxen and hero integrations.
- The emphasis on theme and quick rounds can sometimes come at the expense of broader strategic tension compared to heavier asymmetric titles.
Thematic elements
- Small, cunning forest dwellers engage in a high-stakes stand against massive, otherworldly guardians, blending forest folklore with cinematic combat.
- A sacred forest battleground called Skulk Hollow where a heroic foxen army defends their homeland against colossal, elemental guardians that embody the land itself.
- cinematic, story-driven, and highly thematic through action animation, unit placement, and guardian behaviors
Comparison games
- Shadows of Colossus (video game)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric Mechanics — Foxen and guardians operate under different rules, with distinct victory conditions and action flows that drive tension and counterplay.
- asymmetry — Foxen and guardians operate under different rules, with distinct victory conditions and action flows that drive tension and counterplay.
- Climb and disable mechanics — Foxen can ascend onto guardian locations to damage specific sites, hindering or preventing certain guardian actions and advancing toward victory.
- Deck-driven actions for guardians — Each guardian uses its own action deck, steering its aggressiveness, timing, and threat level in ways that require different responses from the foxen.
- Foxen unit roles and space-based interaction — Units have distinct roles (archers, sentinels, etc.) with different spatial rules, which creates tactical depth around positioning and coverage.
- Guardian asymmetry and ranged/melee balance — Guardians vary not only in powers but also in how they impose threat ranges, vulnerabilities, and win conditions, creating diverse matchups.
- Ladder Climbing — Foxen can ascend onto guardian locations to damage specific sites, hindering or preventing certain guardian actions and advancing toward victory.
- Luck and deck randomness — Card draws introduce a level of randomness that affects early-to-mid game flexibility and long-term sequencing, influencing risk management.
- Power cubes and future-turn planning — Power cubes act as a resource to unlock bonus actions on future turns, rewarding foresight and careful commitment of current actions.
- Single foxen deck with board-population — The foxen side relies on a single deck but can populate the board with an increasing number of foxen meeples, creating escalating pressure and crowd control decisions.
- Turn economy and action limits — Foxen typically has three actions per turn while guardians have two, creating a squeeze between doing more now versus preserving options for later.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is so incredibly thematic
- the guardians are big and stompy and moving about the board
- the mechanics reverberate that thematic immersion so well
- it's a nice approachable head-to-head game
- even on the losing end it's so cool to see things unfold
- cinematic story that's unfolding in front of you
- I would have liked a little bit more depth and complexity but overall I like this game
- the simplicity and approachability does work in its favor
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zsLIUlKZclI
The Cardboard Herald Top List at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2620 · mention_pk 7744
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautifully asymmetric
- accessible
- exciting
- plays quickly
- lots of variety with different leader units and elemental forces
- fantastic cinematic element
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- asymmetric gameplay
- inspired by Shadow of the Colossus
- cinematic struggle
Comparison games
- Shadow of the Colossus
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control
- asymmetric design
- climbing mechanic
- Ladder Climbing
- unit positioning
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there are a lot of great games and there are a lot of great games that play excellently at two players
- so simple and so elegant and so refined and yet so puzzly and ingenious
- one of the best tactical miniatures games out there without any miniatures whatsoever
- the thing is is that if you sell in bulk you get extra bonuses but if you sell early then you get the most valuable versions
- it gives you so much to consider and be cognizant of as you are drafting every single card but it is incredibly indelibly accessible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–15 of 15