I want to be sure to emphasis this before I say some negative things; I really like this game. It’s a fun, charming little puzzle with heaps of replay value. The artwork and components are of as high a standard as Rio Grande Games put out,meaning it’s still leaps and bounds behind companies like Days of Wonder and Fantasy Flight, but it is a very endearing and fun aesthetic.

Pros of the game most definitely is the cat and mouse game between trying to escape from the killer and finding out how close he may actually be. Going after the killer in the second chapter was lots of fun, and I liked the overall experience of playing as the killer.Others may prefer something simpler like Betrayal at House on the Hill, though. That sort of 'hobby' board game is very replayable, and gets better every time as you learn its quirks. What is the most popular board game in 2023? Monopoly isn't far behind, though. Over the course of its lifetime (some 80-odd years), it's managed to sell well over 200 million copies. That's impressive by any standard. Basically? Anything you see here is the result of multiple playtests with a variety of players, not to mention extensive hands-on time with the product in general. If we haven't played it half to death and don't still love it, it's not getting in.

Basically? It's more than earned its place on our list of the best board games, and numerous expansions (starring a werewolf or revolving around twisted Christmas tales) should keep that magic alive for even longer. Gameplay: All those special powers make the game delightfully unpredictable. Seeing as 51 alien species are included in the base set, there's almost always something new to see, learn, or overcome. You never get a chance to rest on your laurels as a result, and different matchups require different strategies. Simply put, it's energizing.

We've never seen two games go the same way, for instance. Each factions' quirks (and the cards that can influence them) provide a wealth of options each turn, and while this is overwhelming at first, such flexibility makes Root truly compelling in the long-term. It's very replayable. How it works: Casting you as one of two traders in the eponymous city of Jaipur, your challenge is to earn an invite to the maharaja's court by being the best businessperson in all the land. How you do that is up to you though, and there's plenty of room to experiment.

You're expecting it to be as deep as standard Gloomhaven: The original Gloomhaven (not to mention its sequel, Frosthaven) defines 'sprawling fantasy epic.' Indeed, it'll take you months to finish. Even though Jaws of the Lion has plenty of depth, it's nowhere near as big. If you're expecting it to be on par with its predecessor, you'll be disappointed. You don't like randomness: This game relies on randomly-drawn board tiles and cards that'll dictate what happens next. If this kind of unpredictability doesn't appeal, Betrayal probably isn't for you.At first glance, the board itself is a bit intimidating with so many icons and image depictions, however, it is fairly simple to navigate after a brief explanation by the rule book. Playing through one round and learning as you go was the best way to become acclimated to the game play. There are some pretty cool ways that the counselors can slow down or reveal the whereabouts of the killer. Each counselor has "special abilities" and they can either plant lanterns to expose a stealthy maniac, leave bear traps lying around to slow his progress, and put on running shoes to move a little faster. The killer can use an axe to break down the counselor’s cabin door, play a plot twist to take an extra turn, or use an invisible token to mysteriously vanish from sight. Perhaps the best function of the game is that at different points within the game the killer must either reveal his current position or his position from a few turns ago, every three moves. This creates a number of tense moments that are genuine as you realize the maniac is quite possibly right behind you.