Alt text: The image shows the box cover of the board game "DungeonQuest." It depicts an intense scene with a fiery red dragon on the right facing off against a lone adventurer in a blue cloak on the left. The title "DungeonQuest" is prominently displayed in a stylized golden font at the top, with the tagline "Dare you face the Dragon's Challenge?" The box also includes text stating "Game Designed by Jakob Bonds" and "A Game Set in the Runebound Universe" along with logos at the bottom. The artwork is dynamic and richly colored, evoking a sense of fantasy adventure.
| | | | | | | | |

DungeonQuest (1985)

ByMichail

Dungeonquest

Dungeonquest is a fantasy adventure board game originally published in Sweden in 1985 by Alga AB as Drakborgen and subsequently published in English by Games Workshop in 1987. The game was designed by Dan Glimne and Jakob Bonds. The game has gained popularity over the years and has been reissued by various publishers, including Brio AB Games Workshop Schmidt Spiele.

Why is Dungeonquest Popular?

Dungeonquest is a popular game for several reasons:
– It is a classic fantasy adventure board game that has stood the test of time.
– The game is tense, suspenseful, and exciting, with players exploring the ruins of Castle Dragonfire to reach the treasure chamber and escape alive with as much treasure as possible.
– The game has a strong following of fans who appreciate its challenging gameplay and nostalgic appeal.

Game Components of DungeonQuest

  • 20-page rulebook
  • 6-piece gameboard
  • 115 room tiles
  • 174 playing cards
  • Dice
  • 4 plastic miniatures (in the Games Workshop version)
  • Counters and tokens
  • Treasure tokens
  • Dragon tokens.

    How To Setup DungeonQuest

    To set up DungeonQuest, start by placing the gameboard, which is marked by a grid and initially blank except for the dragon’s hoard at the center. Room tiles are placed facedown near the board, and the time track counter is set to “Dawn”. Each player chooses a character and places their miniature at a starting corner of the board. The game includes four characters: Adventurer, Barbarian, Knight, and Ranger, each with unique characteristics such as Strength, Agility, Armour, and Luck.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Objective: Players aim to enter Dragonfire Castle, navigate through a labyrinth to the dragon’s hoard, collect treasure, and exit the castle before sunset.
  • Modular Board: Players draw room tiles at random and place them on the board, creating a unique dungeon layout each game.
  • Room Encounters: When entering a room, players draw a card to determine challenges such as monsters, traps, secret doors, and treasure.
  • Time Limit: The game ends at sunset; players still in the castle are killed by the dragon.
  • Combat Mechanics: Combat is resolved using a rock-paper-scissors style system with cards.
  • Treasure Collection: Players can draw treasure tokens, but risk waking the dragon, which can result in losing all collected treasure and taking damage.

    Player Experience

    DungeonQuest is renowned for its brutal difficulty and high replayability. The game is challenging due to the random nature of room tiles and encounters, making each playthrough unique. Players must balance the risk of collecting more treasure against the increasing likelihood of waking the dragon. The game supports 1-4 players and can be played solo, although it is more engaging with multiple players. A typical game lasts about an hour.

    Pros

  • High Replayability: Each game is unique due to the random placement of room tiles and encounters.
  • Engaging Mechanics: The push-your-luck element and time limit add significant tension and excitement.
  • Simple yet Deep: Despite simple rules, the game offers complex strategic decisions.
  • Thematic Immersion: The game’s theme and components create a vivid dungeon-crawling experience.

    Cons

  • High Randomness: The game is heavily dependent on luck, which may frustrate some players.
  • Component Quality: Older versions have small and varied card sizes, which can be annoying.
  • Steep Difficulty: The game has a low survival rate, which can be discouraging for some players.

    Personal Thoughts on DungeonQuest

    DungeonQuest is ideal for players who enjoy high-stakes, fast-paced dungeon crawlers with a strong element of luck. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate the nostalgic feel of older board games and are looking for a challenging, story-driven experience. While it may not be the best fit for players seeking a highly strategic or balanced game, DungeonQuest excels in providing an entertaining and memorable experience, often marked by gloriously dramatic failures as much as successes.

    We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more. 

    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl