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Unmatched: Slings and Arrows box art

Unmatched: Slings and Arrows

Game ID: GID0372817
Game Info
Year
2024
Collection
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Expansions & Family
Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One Unmatched: Robin Hood vs. Bigfoot
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Description

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.

Description

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.

Featured Videos
Review
RDTN Episode 322: Vijayanagara, Lunar Rush, Unmatched: Slings & Arrows, Vampire Village, Tangram ...

RDTN Episode 322: Vijayanagara, Lunar Rush, Unmatched: Slings & Arrows, Vampire Village, Tangram ...

Rolling Dice and Taking Names Jul 15, 2026
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 4
This page: 4
Sentiment: pos 4 · mix 0 · neu 0 · neg 0
Mentions per page
Showing 1–4 of 4
Video oxgM9xj4X1c Rolling Dice & Taking Names Review at 26:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93444 · mention_pk 252802
Rolling Dice & Taking Names - Unmatched: Slings and Arrows video thumbnail
Click to watch at 26:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Thematic integration of characters and mechanics.
  • Unique gameplay for each character.
  • High replayability through mixing sets.
  • The Wayward Sisters' cauldron mechanic is neat.
Cons
  • Some characters, like the Wayward Sisters, can be difficult to play effectively.
  • Requires practice to master certain characters.
Thematic elements
  • Playing as characters from Shakespeare's works.
  • Globe Theater of William Shakespeare.
Comparison games
  • Marvel Champions (Doctor Strange deck)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card Drafting — Cards from a character's deck are drawn and played.
  • Deck Building — Each character has a unique deck of cards that drive their actions.
  • Pattern Building — Shakespeare players arrange cards to total 10 syllables for a bonus action.
  • Set Collection — The Wayward Sisters collect ingredients in a cauldron to cast spells.
  • skirmish combat — Players use miniatures on a board to engage in combat.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • If you like this sort of thing let us know go to our Discord channel that you can find over at R iak names.com make sure to subscribe or join and if it's like oh wow you guys got a lot of stuff in I like this as opposed to listen you guys talk for 20 minutes about medical conditions and things that go on when you get old and jump straight into games instead.
  • This is one of those games that will stay on my shelf for the again for the link the play and ease to explain the rules it I think it's just a really really good solid filler game.
  • It's a fun stock market game hidden as a pickup and delivery game.
  • Each of these are extremely unique.
  • So far as of May 24 this is one of the best games I've played so far this year.
  • This was definitely in May of 2024 you'll be on Tony's you know best games of the year list.
  • Simple rules but cooperatively there's a lot of strategy and stuff going on as you play.
  • Opening a pack of cards is like smelling a rainbow.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7ygBkZwvEEE Board Game Animal Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 33531 · mention_pk 99721
Board Game Animal - Unmatched: Slings and Arrows video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Flavorful expansion with Shakespearean theming
  • Adds depth and variety to Unmatched battles
  • Accessible and quick-playing expansion
Cons
  • Requires base set to play high-levelly
  • Balance can vary across characters
Thematic elements
  • 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
Comparison games
none
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
No key topics recorded for this video.
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)
No references stored for this video.
Video XDMk5jXPiUc Board Game Animal Top 10 List at 2:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 30395 · mention_pk 89495
Board Game Animal - Unmatched: Slings and Arrows video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • more character options and play styles
  • strong design consistency with base set
Cons
  • could be overwhelming with many sets
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Town's Folk
  • Foul Neighbors
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • character-driven duels — continues the core Unmatched formula with new character options and play styles.
  • Combat: Deck/Hand — continues the core Unmatched formula with new character options and play styles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this is really just a tremendous accomplishment of an expansion
  • everything that came out this year was excellent and held the high standards that I have for Dominion
  • more of a good thing is a good thing expansion which I Define as a situation where you already love the base game and what comes in the expansion is just essentially more of the base game to love
  • more sets are good is kind of like saying that the pizza is good from your favorite pizza place every time you order it
  • it's not increasing the size of the game or complexity but just giving more to love
  • Carnival of chaos fantastic get it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DSdsJSLR-Zg Our Family Plays Games Discussion at 45:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4013 · mention_pk 11695
Our Family Plays Games - Unmatched: Slings and Arrows video thumbnail
Click to watch at 45:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • excellent IP crossover, engaging battles
Cons
  • collectibility may overwhelm casual players
Thematic elements
  • tactical duel with themed fighters
  • mythic vs historical figures combat
  • character-driven, loud
Comparison games
  • Mage Knight
  • Star Wars: Rebellion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • duel card combat — card-based combat with character-specific abilities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
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"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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