Hero’s Journey Home (2015) Board Game

Hero’s Journey Home is a board game that was released in 2015 and designed by Graham Cranfield. It is an adventure card game set in a fantasy world, where players embark on a journey to find their way back home.

Game Components of Hero’s Journey Home

96 unique, hand-drawn illustrations on cards

Dice for combat resolution

Character cards with varying strengths and abilities

Location cards that affect gameplay

Item cards

A burlap bag or box for packaging (initially burlap, later editions moving to a smaller, boxier design)

Rulebook

How To Setup Hero’s Journey Home

To set up the game, players start by shuffling the deck and drawing initial cards. The game begins with a clear end goal: reaching the “Home” card. Players must navigate through various locations, defeat monsters, and manage their characters’ actions and items. The setup involves distributing the necessary cards and dice, with the rulebook serving as a comprehensive reference.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drawing and Management: Players draw cards representing characters, locations, and items.

Combat System: Involves dice rolling to determine hits, with players choosing who is targeted by enemies to add a psychological aspect.

Character Actions: Characters have unique actions, even weak characters have powerful abilities, encouraging strategic play.

Player vs Player Combat: In two-player games, players can engage in combat against each other.

Variable Paths: Enemies of varying strength are shuffled throughout the deck, ensuring different paths to victory each game.

Objective: The primary goal is to reach the “Home” card, avoiding final boss fights for more replayability.

Player Experience

**Hero’s Journey Home** offers a high-adventure experience with a mix of strategy and luck mitigation. Players enjoy the beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations and the depth of gameplay hidden behind simple card designs. The game encourages players to protect weaker characters and use their unique abilities effectively, adding a natural feel to the gameplay.

Pros

Replayability: Different paths to victory due to shuffled enemies and variable character strengths.

Strategic Depth: Players must manage character actions and item usage strategically.

Beautiful Illustrations: 96 unique, hand-drawn cards add to the game’s aesthetic appeal.

Variable Gameplay: Combines card drawing, dice rolling, and player vs player combat for a robust experience.

Cons

Initial Complexity: The simple card design can make it difficult for new players to understand the rules without the rulebook.

Packaging Issues: The initial burlap bag packaging was cumbersome and difficult to use.

Luck Factor: Although mitigated, some elements of the game still involve dice rolling, which may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Hero’s Journey Home

**Hero’s Journey Home** is ideal for fans of fantasy-themed card games and those who enjoy strategic gameplay with a touch of luck. It’s a great choice for players looking for a game that offers high replayability and beautiful visuals. The game is particularly suited for solo players or couples who enjoy cooperative or competitive gameplay in a compact, 30-45 minute session.

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