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Over the last decade or so, I’ve found myself increasingly attracted to cooperative games. The reason is twofold: firstly, an increasing number of game developers are producing these types of games. Secondly, I’m drawn to games that emphasize teamwork and collaboration, often featuring asynchronous abilities for players with a shared end goal. It’s a unique thrill that many other gaming experiences can’t match, and this is also true for the latest game in the Ravensburger “Horrified” series, specifically “Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons“.

As a movie buff diving into the world of board games, I’ve always admired how well the D&D theme fits for cooperative play. On paper, it seems like a perfect match. However, Prospero Hall has taken it a step further with this version, incorporating a D20 and subtle details (both story-driven and mechanically-focused) that distinguish it from the Horrified game series as a whole, and indeed, from the entire cooperative tabletop gaming landscape.

Horrified Dungeons & Dragons Nails The D&D Theme

Dungeon Delving and Hanging Around Town Are Both On The Table

As a newcomer to the chilling world of Horrified, let me tell you about the engaging setup that invites collaboration. The objective is simple yet challenging: work together with your team to vanquish all the terrifying monsters in each game session. Each monster presents unique objectives, puzzles, and demands, ensuring a fresh experience every time.

You’ll navigate the game board, venturing from location to location while gathering useful items to solve riddles or defeat these fearsome creatures. Alongside this, you’ll help guide friendly NPCs to safety. Keep in mind that each monster can introduce unexpected obstacles and follow their own phases (determined by a monster deck) which commence following the completion of every player’s turn.

In this game, modularity is introduced by the variety of monster combinations you can encounter. Initially, you’ll find yourself battling two monsters in a standard setup, but you have options to make it easier or more challenging. You can opt for a single opponent if you prefer an easier or faster experience, or engage in a wild power-gaming session where you fight all opponents at once. Moreover, each character has a unique skill set that can significantly impact the outcome of battles, making it ideal for the party-based environment found in Dungeons & Dragons. The playable characters are The Rogue, The Wizard, The Fighter, The Cleric, and The Bard. You can start with one character (for solo play) and go up to five players.

Fundamentally, “Horrified” is a game based on limited action economy. In essence, each player gets four actions during their turn, which can be utilized for moving, collecting items, guiding NPCs, solving monster riddles, or defeating/subduing monsters when all conditions are fulfilled. The decision of how to utilize your turn lies with you, but if progress isn’t made, the monsters may gradually gain the upper hand before victory is achieved. This balance provides an exciting yet not overly harsh gameplay experience.

In what way does Dungeons & Dragons play a role here? The game’s characters and creatures are all inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, and there’s even a D20 die that is integral to the game mechanics. Players can use this die during actions to perform special moves based on their character type. For instance, fighters might use it to defend against enemy attacks, while mages could use it to teleport characters across the board. Similarly, monsters can utilize the D20 for powerful abilities and attacks as well.

As a film enthusiast and avid tabletop gamer, I must express my admiration for the streamlined design philosophy of “Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons.” This approach encourages players to employ the D20 ability in almost every turn, keeping the dice rolls engaging and integral to the game’s dynamic pacing. While the abilities themselves boast significant power, the thrill lies in the fact that even an unsuccessful roll doesn’t hinder the excitement of the gameplay. Instead, it keeps the dice rolling an essential part of the ever-evolving narrative.

In previous Horrified games, each character had distinct skills that varied greatly. However, introducing the D20 mechanism compelled me to experiment with all characters rather than just favoring a select few. The wide range of their abilities also creates intriguing combinations, and it seems teams will plan carefully to determine which characters’ skill sets should be combined for optimal efficiency.

There’s Only Four Monsters, But It Feels Like Five

The Dragon Has Two Phases

In every Horrified game, monsters play a crucial role. So, let’s compare what you get this time around with previous series installments. Here’s a brief overview of the monsters included in each Horrified product line:

Universal Monsters – Six Monsters
American Monsters – Six Monsters
Greek Monsters – Six Monsters
World of Monsters – Four Monsters
Dungeons & Dragons – Four Monsters (Mimic, Displacer Beast, Beholder, Red Dragon)

Four popular creatures from the world of Dungeons & Dragons, each distinct in their lore and mechanics, are worth noting. The Mimic disguises itself while creating havoc for the party, its map-like internal structure hidden on its game board. Similarly elusive, the Displacer Beast can evade capture by teleporting to players’ locations, making it a formidable foe. The Beholder, with multiple eyestalks boasting unique abilities, must have these destroyed before it can be vanquished. Lastly, the Red Dragon is designed as a two-stage “campaign” rather than a one-time encounter.

Over the past several game sets, we’ve seen a decrease in the overall count of monstrous entities, yet their intricacy and challenge level have been gradually escalating. To illustrate, the Cthulhu character from “World of Monsters” and the dragon from “Dungeons & Dragons” are both multi-stage combat situations, effectively creating five distinct encounters. This involves locating the lair, acquiring a specific artifact (The Orb of Dragonkind), attracting the monster out, surrounding its lair, and ultimately defeating it. This setup lends itself to an engaging quest experience, contrasting with other monsters that adhere more closely to the conventions of the “Horrified” system.

It’s always exciting to battle monsters, yet I can’t help but wish there were more of them. The initial three entries in Horrified offered a great deal of variety, as six different monsters provided numerous intriguing mix-and-match possibilities. When we initially played the original Horrified with my core gaming group, we experimented with various monster combinations to test the game’s limits. Regrettably, that aspect seems absent in the latest versions of the game, but each monster is a standout, so the D&D version compensates with its consistent quality.

In addition to other parts, there’s also increased intricacy. The map, divided into two distinct regions (Everdeep at the top and Undermountain at the bottom), offers a distinctive backdrop for Horrified. Scattered teleportation circles across the terrain facilitate travel in Undermountain, and besides typical methods, you need to leave the town through the sewers or a spiral portal gate. Here, movement plays a more crucial role than it does in any other adaptation of the game, making strategic planning even more essential.

Horrified Is A Series That Could Go On Indefinitely

There Is No Shortage Of Themes

For approximately six years, the game line Horrified has been a consistent presence. I must admit that I didn’t anticipate it lasting this long, but I’m thrilled it has. Since the debut of the initial entry, I’ve been a dedicated player, not only due to its cooperative nature, but also because it’s incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. I’ve successfully introduced Horrified to individuals unfamiliar with tabletop games, even my daughter, and every one of them managed to understand the game mechanics in roughly five minutes.

This outstanding system seamlessly integrates with multiple themes, but “Terrifying: Dungeons & Dragons” demonstrates its potential for further growth. Incorporating the D20 and a dash of calculated risk into the game was genius, and similar innovative mechanics could be effortlessly incorporated into future expansions. If this were to be the finale, it would make for a fitting swan song for the series.

2025-05-29 17:19