Above and Below: Haunted
- Designer Ryan Laukat
- Publisher Red Raven Games , HIT Games
- Illustration Ryan Laukat
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What to Expect
You build a lakeside village and send villagers into watery caves to collect goods, treasures and story encounters. Gameplay mixes Action Points, Dice Rolling and Narrative Choice / Paragraph cave encounters. New features like ghosts, dangerous cave types and pearls affect reputation and scoring, forcing trade-offs between risk and reward.
Who Is This Game For?
For gamers who enjoy city-building with narrative exploration; suitable for ages 8+ and for 2–4 players. With a playtime of about 120 minutes it is an evening-length game that benefits from players willing to read and discuss story sections.
How It Works
Players recruit villagers, construct buildings and explore caves, with narrative paragraphs describing encounters. Core mechanics include Action Points to take actions, Dice Rolling for exploration outcomes and Set Collection for goods and pearls. Ghosts can haunt buildings and lower reputation; a banish action lets players move ghosts to gain rewards.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Ryan Laukat, the game expands the Above and Below universe (World of Arzium) and adds new components such as ghost and pearl mechanics. Family metadata lists audio narration and an official soundtrack, and the game distinguishes normal and dangerous cave cards with different requirements and rewards.
Pro
- Combines city-building with narrative cave exploration (Narrative Choice / Paragraph)
- New mechanics (ghosts, pearls) add scoring twists and interaction
- Includes audio and soundtrack components according to family data
- Designed by Ryan Laukat and connected to Above and Below
Contra
- Around 120 minutes playtime — rather evening-length
- Narrative passages and setup require reading and explanation time
Setting & atmosphere
Set in the world of Arzium, the theme centers on settling lakeside villages and exploring underground waterways and sinkholes. The player characters seek a fresh start while uncovering hazards and treasures beneath the surface.
Tips for beginners
Focus first on recruitment and building to establish income; use cave explorations to supplement resources and story rewards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
No — the game is listed for 2–4 players (players.min = 2).
How long does a game really take?
The listed duration is about 120 minutes; with explanation and narrative sections a session can run longer.
What prior experience do I need?
Classified as a gamer/kennertitle: experience with city-building and narrative exploration games is helpful.
How does this compare to similar games?
It builds on Above and Below’s concept but adds ghosts, pearls and two cave types plus audio elements.
Is this suitable for families?
Age 8+ makes it family-eligible, but the length and narrative content suit older or experienced family groups better.
What mechanic makes it special?
The mix of Narrative Choice / Paragraph with Action Points and Dice Rolling creates story-driven tactical decisions.
Fazit
A good pick for players who like narrative cave exploration combined with village building; best for groups with time for ~120-minute sessions and story reading.
