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In battle, there are no equals.
Unmatched is a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game for two or four players. Each hero is represented by a unique deck designed to evoke their style and legend. Tactical movement and no-luck combat resolution create a unique play experience that rewards expertise, but just when you've mastered one set, new heroes arrive to provide all new match-ups.
Combat is resolved quickly by comparing attack and defense cards. However, each card's unique effects and a simple but deep timing system lead to interesting decisions each time. The game also features an updated version of the line-of-sight system from Tannhäuser for ranged attacks and area effects.
All the world's a stage in Unmatched: Slings and Arrows, while the Globe Theater is a battlefield. William Shakespeare steps up to the fight along with three of his wondrous characters: The Wayward Sisters, Hamlet, and Titania. Shakespeare's deck, designed by Jonathan Guberman, was one of the winning decks in a 2020 design competition, and it rewards players for completing lines in iambic pentameter. The Wayward Sisters, a runner-up in that competition from Jason Hager, is a multi-hero deck that challenges you to bring the witches' potion machinations to life with cunning co-ordination.
- Flavorful expansion with Shakespearean theming
- Adds depth and variety to Unmatched battles
- Accessible and quick-playing expansion
- Requires base set to play high-levelly
- Balance can vary across characters
- Duel combat with quotes and theatrical flair
- Thematic crossover duels featuring literary and mythic characters, with theatrical dialogue
- Quippy, quote-driven banter and cross-cutting pop culture references
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric fighter design — Each fighter has unique abilities and tools, encouraging varied strategies.
- Card-driven actions — Players select action cards to perform moves, attacks, and special actions.
- duel-theme conflicts with thematic flavor — Characters bring quotes and theatrical flavor to battles.
- range-based combat on a grid — Movement and attacks occur on a small map with positional considerations.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- be or not to be that is the question
- this baddy out it's great it's really an awesome expansion uh spoilers obviously
- super love unmatched already but you will not do wrong with checking out the slings and arrow set
- I'd love to know who your favorite character is from it
- put it down below keep playing unmatched and all your board games like an animal
References (from this video)
- excellent IP crossover, engaging battles
- collectibility may overwhelm casual players
- tactical duel with themed fighters
- mythic vs historical figures combat
- character-driven, loud
- Mage Knight
- Star Wars: Rebellion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- duel card combat — card-based combat with character-specific abilities
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "it's Mad Max on steroids where you just killing up folk in your car"
- "this is the addiction show"
- "Stone Age is my favorite worker placement game"
- "it's a trick taking game"
- "Unmatched Slings and Arrows... Shakespeare going to war"
- "be sure to check out moving out"