Final Score: 4.5 Stars – A well-built game with huge replay value. A must have for any gamer that enjoys a challenging horror themed tactical dungeon crawl. It’s obvious to see and I really have to applaud the overall thought, intension, and effort of the designers. Their work makes Machina Arcana an easy must have and play for me. The game was built with quality components top to bottom. It mixes the two genres steampunk and Cthulhu that complement each other very well and help set the dark and sinister tone for this horror themed tactical dungeon crawl.

We will most certainly have a reprint, but the planning will be done once this campaign is absolutely completed. Had my regular Cthulhu Wars crew over today. We usually try to start with something else (we've been playing a fair amount of Tiny Epic Crimes lately) and when talking about a couple other games, I...The world of tabletop gaming has been peculiarly enamoured with this particular goo-drenched touchstone, revisiting it with an insistence that verges on the compulsive as the well-worn cobblestones of Arkham surrender to a volume of foot traffic that weathers its edges and chokes its byways.

The steampunk genre fits seamlessly with the Mythos and to be honest, I think it does better than most. You could possibly plug-in another genre but the designers again were purposeful to use the neo-Victorian mixed with Mythos images for the artwork and decorative elements. Overall, when you first open the box the steampunk images and dark tones give you that creepy and weird feeling that you should expect to find with Cthulhu based horror games. This was an excellent pairing of genres for this horror theme. Players will find a large variety of weapons and equipment, some of which can be modified.Second are the illustrations. These again seem to be purposeful. They’re done in grayscale to give a feel that they were drawn by some neo-Victorian artist. All the images seem to radiate the mood of Machina Arcana by the fact that they are all done in dark tones of this sinister horror game. This style of art truly compliments both genres and the overall horror theme. If four-color images were used I believe this would have been a mistake. All images of the characters, monsters, and treasure give the game a creepy and weird authenticity to it. How to Play: Each player gets to run a unique explorer, each with their own unique stats and special abilities. Enjoy the stunning art and dark visuals of the game world. Let yourself become entranced by the gripping story and peculiar events as you fight for survival amidst the mysterious arcane depths. I agree entirely with preferring the 1E art to 2E; I think it contributed greatly to the whole atmosphere, which clearly was of primary importance to the designer. Players take on the role of explorers thrown into dreadful halls, scratching for survival and progressing through the chapters from one of many horror stories.Even if they manage to stay alive till the end of the story, they will face a special mini game at the finale of each scenario. The unique environment, interactive inventory, combat mechanics and tactical diversity are all enveloped in an integral storytelling experience that provides both total immersion in the world and full replay value. Into this foaming throng strides yet another robed acolyte in the form of Adreama Games’ Machina Arcana, and this time it’s adorned with the cogwheel trappings of a steampunk aesthetic to try and distance itself from the tommy-gun and fedora sporting crowd of the roaring twenties that has seemingly settled as the default dressing.

Now, that being said, I have to be honest and admit that I don’t know much about steampunk but I did go into this review with an open mind mainly because I understand that the Mythos cross and compliment many genres and themes. So how well does Machina Arcana pair these two genres into a horror game you should to add to your collection? Read on!We released an Official Player Aid a couple of weeks ago that serves as a handy tool for new players. The addition of larger cards and sturdy double-layer player boards is a fantastic addition, but in what may be a contentious call – I’d trade them in a heartbeat for the reinstatement of the first edition’s art.