Dark Souls: The Board Game
- Designer David Carl , Alex Hall , Mat Hart , Richard Loxam
- Publisher Steamforged Games Ltd. , Ulisses Spiele
- Illustration Thomas Lishman
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
For 1-4 players, this game offers modular board exploration, tactical combat against monsters, and challenging boss fights like Ornstein and Smough. Featuring deck, bag, and pool building, dice rolling, and grid movement, it demands strategic stamina management. Each encounter varies thanks to an innovative enemy behavior system, ensuring high replayability.
Who Is This Game For?
Dark Souls is an expert-level game recommended for ages 14 and up, with a playtime around 120 minutes. It suits players who enjoy cooperative tactical challenges with miniatures and complex mechanics. Prior experience with cooperative and miniature games is helpful due to strategic planning and resource management demands.
How It Works
Players move characters on a modular grid-based board, exploring new locations revealed during play. Deck, bag, and pool building control available actions, while dice rolls resolve combat outcomes. Cooperation is key to overcoming enemies and bosses by managing stamina carefully and coordinating tactics.
What Makes It Special
Designed by David Carl, Alex Hall, Mat Hart, and Richard Loxam, it won the UK Games Expo Best American Style Game award in 2017. The game blends dungeon crawler elements, complex miniature combat, and a unique enemy behavior system. Based on the Dark Souls video game series, it offers near-infinite replayability with modular boards and dynamic encounters.
Awards
2017
- 2017 Dragon Awards Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures/Collectible Card/Role Playing Game Nomiee — Nominated
Pro
- High replayability with modular boards and varied enemies
- Cooperative play supporting 1-4 players including solo mode
- Innovative enemy behavior system for dynamic battles
- Winner of UK Games Expo Best American Style Game 2017
Contra
- High complexity and long playtime (~120 minutes)
- Recommended age 14+ limits family play with younger children
- Miniature and mechanic complexity suits experienced gamers
Setting & Atmosphäre
Set in a dark fantasy world with medieval elements, inspired by the Dark Souls video games. Players explore grim dungeons and face formidable monsters and bosses.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Take time to learn deck building and stamina management mechanics; playing with experienced players helps ease the learning curve.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
Yes, Dark Souls: The Board Game includes a solo mode for one player.
How long does a game really take?
A typical game lasts about 120 minutes, including setup of the modular board.
What prior experience do I need?
This is an expert-level game best suited for players familiar with cooperative and miniature games requiring tactical resource management.
How does this compare to similar games?
It combines modular exploration with a unique enemy behavior system and high complexity, distinguishing it from other dungeon crawlers.
Is this suitable for families?
Due to its complexity and recommended age of 14+, it is more suitable for experienced players than for families with young children.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of cooperative gameplay, deck, bag, and pool building, along with an innovative enemy behavior system, makes it unique.
Fazit
Dark Souls: The Board Game is highly recommended for experienced players seeking cooperative tactical depth. Its complexity and length require patience and strategic thinking.
