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Game Info
Year
1985
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
This entry is for the West End Games version and other printings. For the 2009 Z-Man Games version, go to Tales of the Arabian Nights
Tales of the Arabian Nights is actually several games in one.
In the standard game, the players are characters living in the 1001 Nights universe, wandering about the map and having adventures. These adventures are designed in a sort of paragraph system, with the player to your left reading what happens to you and exposing the choices you have - choices that then lead to other paragraphs or outcomes. The characters evolve during their adventures, acquiring skills of various degrees of advancement to open up new options and various "statuses" (such as married, despondent, cursed, etc) which also affect play. The object is to become rich and come back to Baghdad.
Other variants of the standard game include the Quest game, which forces you to roam the map looking for quests to fulfill. There's also a Merchant game, where your adventures give you arrow tokens which are used on a little separate board to simulate the progress of your caravans.
The German edition, Geschichten aus 1001 Nacht, was published in 2000 and contained a revised Book of Tales along with some extra adventures.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 11
This page: 11
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–11 of 11
Video vu6B7rPFhEE
Board Games UnLocked Playthrough at 0:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 114988 · mention_pk 327266
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging narrative experience
- High player agency
- Humorous and unpredictable outcomes
Cons
- Can be complex to track all statuses and rules
- Significant amount of reading involved
- Dice rolls can lead to frustrating setbacks
Thematic elements
- Storytelling
- The world of Aladdin
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character Stats — Players track various stats like Destiny, Story, Wealth, and Skills.
- Dice Rolling — Used to determine outcomes of encounters, movement, and other game effects.
- Movement — Players move their pieces across a board representing various locations.
- questing — Players have specific quests or goals they need to complete.
- Status Effects — Characters can gain or lose various statuses like 'lost', 'wounded', 'outlaw', 'imprisoned', 'ensorcelled', 'scorned', etc.
- Storytelling — The core mechanic where players read encounter paragraphs and make choices that drive the narrative.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The legendary storytelling board game in the world.
- This is a hard one this is really scripty and small.
- My quest is the pool of the sea.
- I cannot believe you make him go all the way down.
- You were wounded before you can flee.
- God all right what treasure did you get to buy disrobing for the vizier or the sultan selling the robe.
- My turn, I made it.
- The game is over almost over can you just please move me on to my destination.
- You have died congratulations you win.
- I'm still lost like a loser.
- You think I'm just praying in general I don't think comparing to him.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0ucJa9vdSew
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:18 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 114989 · mention_pk 384959
Click to watch at 0:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Impressive for its time in terms of narrative depth and outcomes.
- Creates unique and often humorous stories.
- Whimsical and engaging theme.
- Good with a group of 3 players for pacing.
Cons
- Lack of meaningful player agency or control.
- Highly reliant on luck with little strategic depth.
- Gameplay can feel aimless or like 'fluff'.
- Can be too long for the gameplay experience.
- Some thematic elements are outdated and potentially offensive by modern standards.
- App support would greatly improve the experience due to book lookups.
Thematic elements
- Arabian lore, stories of Aladdin and Sinbad
- Middle East
- Player-crafted narrative through random encounters and choices
Comparison games
- Near and Far
- Sleeping Gods
- Agents of Smurfs
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Rolling — Dice rolls determine outcomes and interact with character skills and encounter cards.
- Set Collection (Goals) — Players have objectives related to 'story points' or 'destiny points', but their impact on winning is downplayed.
- Skill checks — Players acquire skills that can influence encounter outcomes, though their relevance is debated.
- Storytelling/Narrative — The core of the game involves reading from a large book of paragraphs based on player choices and dice rolls, creating unique stories for each player.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the game and i use that term very very loosely when i say game
- the board is almost just an excuse to read yeah to each other it's it's a very impressive bit of fluff
- it's literally just the luck of the role the luck of the draw uh that is absolutely this game you have no control over what what skills you get
- i guess i could say this game didn't age well
- the i will say this game in today's day and age uh would technically not be pc
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BZ6WzqzUSoc
Nights Around a Table Discussion at 0:38 sentiment: negative
video_pk 89152 · mention_pk 236491
Click to watch at 0:38 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Kept ending up in jail
Thematic elements
- Tales
- Arabian Nights
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a game that's so big and hairy and compact takes so long to play and requires so many players I only get it to the table once a year nobody wants to play with me other times of the year you can just so rarely get it to the table but it's the one that you really want to play all the time
- I kept ending up in jail and that's why it's in the sales table
- Twilight Imperium probably dozens of times it's really calm complicated and like my friends and I are all like fairly new so like teaching it to like other people takes me forever
- it's more a matter of having the right group for it and being able to organize that group
- you get little pieces of Honey the bees are fuzzy it's a really fun game and you get to shape stuff out of clay and then people have to guess it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wpnIdhKCMik
BoardGameBollocks Top List at 2:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88183 · mention_pk 413286
Click to watch at 2:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- The stories it tells of character's journeys through this world is still one of the best experiences that we've ever had with a board game
Cons
- The scoring system is completely and utterly meaningless
Thematic elements
- Adventures in the style of Arabian Nights
- Middle East
- Story-driven, with choices based on character abilities influencing encounters drawn from a book of tales.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card-driven encounters — Encounter cards direct players to entries in a book of tales.
- Storytelling — A story-driven game where players have choices based on character abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- if your favorite board games aren't on this list then that is because a we haven't played them or B it's because we think they're [ __ ]
- but until then wait for the next installment of this list right we'll see you next
- do you agree with our list if you don't leave a comment down below and we'll come around your ass and kick your [ __ ] head in
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video keYeekasjI8
The Dungeon Dive Top List at 30:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87523 · mention_pk 228876
Click to watch at 30:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- super fun
- big fat Adventure book
- really fun game
- instantly having fun with the game again
- need to play this game at least once or twice a year
- it's so good so much fun
Cons
- games are way too long
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Keyword System — a keyword system
- story-driven encounters — you might try to manipulate what's going on with your character on the table and you'll make a choice and something crazy happens you have a sex change you get turned into a monkey who knows what happens to you in that game but it's always fun if you just go along with the ride
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Fallout with the expansions with the California expansion and the atomic bonds um Atomic bonds expansion the small expansion that basically fixes the game uh yeah out of the box wasn't a great game I liked it more than most people did but those expansions greatly Elevate the game it is a great great post-apocalyptic game that does have that unique Fallout feel
- The combat is a little fiddly and just never really feels natural I always forget uh how to solve combat in that game but uh everything else I really like the questing is super cool and just it's a neat world to be in and I think they did a really good job of capturing the uniqueness of Fallout
- But once you start adding in all of the incredible expansions for Defenders of the realm then the game really does feel like this Grand epic adventure game
- It's a cliffhanger game fortune and Glory the Cliffhanger game it has that old Cliffhanger serialized feel to it where you jump for a cliff and you fail that roll and you miss and then on your next turn you have to pick up on that Cliffhanger and you're hanging on by a thread
- This is probably the most unique game on this list and that is B in one aard game all about Brighton and that is the 2022 it's the uh 10th anniversary edition I believe it's the newest edition that he just put out and this is a game all about having a adventurous day in the city of Brighton and it's a modernday urban Adventure game and it is so Charming
- It really is it's impossible to keep up it's impossible to play all the games it's impossible to play the games I want to play enough to to satisfy me because there's just so many things coming out and so many things competing for for our hobby intention
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Y9CqPyXgPjw
Beyond Solitaire Rules Teach at 0:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12589 · mention_pk 36720
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Distinctive, immersive storytelling experience that centers on narrative and player choice
- Strong social element; great for groups with humor and shared reading
- Large, book-like core material encourages varied and surprising outcomes
- Provides memorable moments and teaching potential for classroom or informal settings
Cons
- Clunky, paperwork-heavy setup can be off-putting and slow pacing
- Relying on reading aloud to progress may disrupt flow for some players
- Mechanics can feel opaque or dense without prior exposure to the system
Thematic elements
- storytelling, destiny, chance, and moral choices shaped by narrative prompts and player interactions
- Arabian Nights-inspired world featuring cities like Baghdad and Alexandria, with a episodic, story-driven journey through various locales
- paragraph-driven, book-of-tales style with reaction matrices and dice-influenced branching outcomes
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Combat: Deck/Hand — draws that trigger location-specific paragraphs and narrative outcomes
- destiny points — a secondary resource that can influence outcomes and merge with story progression
- encounter deck — draws that trigger location-specific paragraphs and narrative outcomes
- Movement and resources — movement is tied to wealth and location, influencing how far players can travel and which encounters they can access
- Narrative Choice — players choose starting skills that shape how they interact with the story and resolve encounters
- Paragraph-based resolution — story advancement happens by reading from a central book and following outcomes via a dice-assisted lookup
- Quest deck — quest markers track long-term goals and story progression
- Reaction matrices — decision matrices that route to different narrative paragraphs based on player choices
- Skill selection — players choose starting skills that shape how they interact with the story and resolve encounters
- Status deck — afflictions and conditions that can affect the character across the story
- Story points — players accumulate story points toward victory and determine success thresholds at game start
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is Tales of the Arabian Nights I just wanted to give you a quick overview what it's like to play
- a lot of fun and hilarious
- there's always someone to read the paragraph to you so you don't accidentally spoil yourself on anything
- it's one of those games that there's really not anything quite like it out there
- this is a game I've really loved with students even though it's kind of clunky as you might have noticed
- happy gaming
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MTvF6bEx-IY
Going Analog Discussion at 16:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12522 · mention_pk 36528
Click to watch at 16:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- rich storytelling
- great for narrative sessions
Cons
- aging components
- complex for new players
Thematic elements
- story-driven exploration
- Arabian Nights-inspired adventures
Comparison games
- D&D board games
- Fiasco
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Story-Driven — Story-based exploration with narrative outcomes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the board game quiz show
- it's a board game play through series that's over 400 episodes now
- we're rough on you but we're having fun today
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video rs6XE0C80Z0
Board Game Replay Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12153 · mention_pk 35553
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High thematic focus and storytelling emphasis
- Strong replayability due to a vast encounter book and diverse outcomes
- Fun social dynamics with players reacting to evolving stories
Cons
- Limited mechanics can feel shallow for some players
- Luck/dice outcomes can dominate, leading to frustration
- Can be chaotic for players seeking strict game balance
Thematic elements
- Story-driven, fate and destiny, moral choices with magical and fantastical encounters
- Baghdad and surrounding regions, with travels across Africa and beyond into various locales
- Giant, branching, choose-your-own-adventure–style storytelling guided by an expansive book of tales
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character setup and skill selection — Players pick three unique skills from a side-pool to influence encounters and options
- Destiny and story points — Players accumulate story points and destiny points to determine victory
- Encounter-driven progression — On each turn, players encounter a location-based scenario, resolved via a book of passages and dice/skills
- Quest cards — Each player draws a quest card to establish rough goals or aspirations
- Status Effects — Characters gain statuses that modify dice rolls, actions, and interactions with others
- Wealth-based movement — Movement is constrained by wealth level, affecting range and travel options
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's the giant choose your own adventure book.
- This game is just the same thing, but I get to watch my friends choose things.
- It's not really a game.
- You could play this game a hundred times and you're still receiving different outcomes.
- It's the best creative bedtime story ever.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video V1mQPC3_Jqk
The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast Top List at 6:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12100 · mention_pk 35431
Click to watch at 6:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tells a vivid story
- laugh-out-loud moments with friends
Cons
- no deterministic path to victory
- can be chaotic
Thematic elements
- storytelling with humorous and dramatic outcomes
- Arabian Nights-inspired adventures
- story-driven encounters with branching options
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- drunken encounters — encounters amplified by social interaction and roleplay
- narrative encounter choices — multitude of outcomes based on choices
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game is a great two-player game
- it's Jurassic Park the board game
- I've only played it twice and I'm not sure yet, it hasn't stood the test of time
- the tongue and cheek aspect of building this dystopian world
- it's Sim City the board game
- best time you can have playing this game is when you're drunk
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XtTzDyM0eek
Board Game Hangover Top List at 0:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4602 · mention_pk 13489
Click to watch at 0:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Quirky and fun
- Accessible for casual play
Cons
- Light on mechanic depth
Thematic elements
- Story-driven adventure
- Fantasy Arabian Nights-inspired stories
- Paragraph-driven narrative with choices
Comparison games
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Board Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Choice-based outcomes — Player choices affect narrative result
- Story paragraphs — Rolling dice determines which narrative paragraph applies
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the story that matters in these games; mechanisms complement stories
- this is the best scavenging system
- we're going to present one game that the other person hasn't played
- Pirates of the Caribbean the board game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vF8ntFKqo4k
The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast Top List at 3:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 328 · mention_pk 963
Click to watch at 3:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unpredictable storytelling
- Humorous outcomes
Cons
- Not a strategic game
- Randomness can be frustrating
Thematic elements
- Narrative adventure
- Arabian-inspired world
- Randomized storytelling
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Narrative Choice — Players choose responses to random events
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- these are my top five morbidly dark themes in games that make me laugh
- do not play it boring just like you're trying to score points tell the story
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–11 of 11