Monster Pit (2023) Board Game

Monster Pit is a cooperative adventure board game that was released in in 2023. Designed by Carly A-F and Kwanchai Moriya, with artwork by Elzra, the game is set in a fantasy world where players take on the role of heroes battling against monsters. With a mix of dice rolling, deck construction, and hand management, Monster Pit offers a unique gaming experience for 1-5 players aged 14 and above.

Game Components of Monster Pit

Player Boards: Each player chooses a Champion with unique abilities

Dice: Used for various game mechanics such as combat, activating the monster, and determining the end of the game

Character Markers: For placing on the city board

Cards: Representing warriors, mounts, items, and wizards

City Board: Featuring various districts with worker placement spaces

End of Game Token: Tracks the game’s progression

Extra Monster: Included in the Kickstarter version.

How To Setup Monster Pit

To set up **Monster Pit**, each player starts by selecting a player board and a Champion, each with their own unique abilities. The city board is laid out, and the end of game token is placed at the starting position. Players begin with a Paladin and accumulate more warriors, mounts, items, and wizards as the game progresses. The game also includes a summary sheet for each player, detailing the possible actions and abilities.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Defeat the big boss before the end of game token reaches the end of the track.

Dice Rolling: Used for combat, activating the monster, and determining the end of the game.

Worker Placement: Players place their markers on the city board to activate various abilities.

Tableau Building: Players build their character’s abilities by acquiring new warriors, mounts, items, and wizards.

Solo Mode: Fully supported with scaling factors for solo players.

Player Experience

**Monster Pit** offers a visually appealing experience with its gorgeous art and high-quality components, although the cards lack a linen finish. However, the gameplay is marred by several issues. The game is heavily reliant on dice rolls, which can lead to significant randomness and frustration. Players have limited agency, with only one action per turn, while the game’s engines continuously introduce new challenges. The rulebook’s poor explanations of the rules add to the complexity and frustration.

Pros

Visuals: The game has stunning artwork and good-looking components.

Solo Support: Fully supports solo play with scaling factors.

Variety of Actions: Multiple spaces on the city board offer different actions and abilities.

Tableau Building: Players can build and enhance their characters throughout the game.

Cons

Randomness: Over-reliance on dice rolls leads to high randomness and potential frustration.

Poor Action Economy: Players have only one action per turn despite numerous challenges.

Complex Rules: The rulebook fails to explain many rules clearly, adding to the game’s complexity.

Personal Thoughts on Monster Pit

**Monster Pit** is ideal for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy dice rolling and worker placement mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking games with low randomness and strong player agency. Despite its beautiful presentation, the game’s mechanics and rule complexities might deter some players. It is recommended for players aged 14 and above, and it takes approximately 60 minutes to play.

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