Since Mice and Mystics is a story-driven game, it’s nice that they made these minis so detailed because it helps you to get immersed in the world. And, I especially appreciate that, if you play like I do, then you must make these decisions from an uninformed perspective - which does a good job of representing the vantage point of your characters.

Perhaps it’s the influence of streaming services like Netflix and Prime, but designers seem keen to bring some of that grand narrative experience to the game table, unfolding plot and twists over multiple gaming sessions. Each roll can be met with fists in the air cheering or hands on head groaning and after a succession of bad rolls you may feel under Vanestra’s curse. Where as I wish that there would be more of ‘we have a plan how to sneak through those rat warrior guards, but something went wrong and we have solved it all together by making narratively exciting decisions!Get out of conventional games and classics (at the risk of creating references that would become, precisely, classics! The game is scenario driven, and in each scenario, the players are working together to accomplish a certain goal - whether that is escaping the castle, defeating the house cat, sending a message via a crow, or something else entirely. A malicious presence has taken root, and it has hatched a scheme that will ensnare the Prince and his friends, forever changing the course of history for the mouse-town of Barksburg.

I enjoyed the different mice (each of which fills a different role in the party) and like that you can customize them with ability cards. Mice and Mystics is a boldly innovative game that thrusts players into an ever-changing, interactive environment, and features a rich storyline that the players help create as they play the game. This is because, for all of the storybook friendliness and the delightful design of the miniatures, Mice and Mystics can be punishing, tough and occasionally a slog to finish a level. If there are no minions on the board, remove all woulnds from all mice, then add a cheese to the wheel.Gameplay is co-operative, with players controlling one or more mice to try and achieve the chapter goals before the timer, marked by an hourglass on the chapter track, runs out. The majority of the game will be spent exploring the various room tiles and battling minions via dice rolling. Often quoted as being “simple yet engrossing”, its theme and story elements were enough to sell it to me. While the story and the simplicity of the rules seems to cater to younger gamers, the gameplay seems to be too relaxed to consistently occupy someone’s attention, especially the young active mind.

The game features some light RPG elements such as customizable powers and the ability to level up during the game. You’re not going to be waiting around too long for others to take their turns since you’re pretty much always working together to make each move. For those who are willing to take their time and play the game by its own rules, you’ll be looking at one of the most stunningly presented and lovingly created games you’ll play. As an older game, Mice and Mystics might not have the story branching of modern app supported games like Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth, but its use of two sided tiles and ingenious ways to change mission goals (quest decks, random tile placement, boss characters), allows it to avoid the trap of becoming samey as you progress through chapters.The cards do not carry over into the next chapter and so there is not much in terms of progress (players can carry over 1 new item into the next scenario, as well as any level up cards they have earned). We've been interested in Mice and Mystics but also just got Descent: Journeys in the Dark 2nd Edition for Christmas and the boys have loved it - playing constantly. The main thing that you are trying to do in each chapter is clear off all of the minions so you can move through the rooms quicker. First, I like that each scenario doesn't have the same victory condition, and second that there are decisions (side quests) that you have to make during the campaign that will affect what happens later.