Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit (2018) Board Game

Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit is a board game based on the popular Fantastic Beasts film series created by J.K. Rowling. Released in 2018, this game allows players to step into the magical world of Newt Scamander and his fantastic beasts. Designed by The Op Games, this game is perfect for fans of the movies and fantasy-themed board games.

Game Components of Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit

4 player boards

15 matching player pieces

4 sliders for the individual player boards

1 Beast movement token

12 Beast cards

6 dice

30 Insight cards

Ready, Set, and Shield tokens

Health trackers

How To Setup Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit

To set up the game, each player selects one of the four character boards and associated tokens, including Ready, Set, and Shield tokens. Each player starts with one Insight card and places their health slider on the 10-life spot. The Beast cards, categorized by difficulty levels (Level 1 to Level 3), are randomly chosen and stacked with the Level 1 beast on top. The progress marker is placed on the Beast Progress track.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Dice Rolling: Players roll up to 6 dice, with the option to re-roll up to three times.

Action Assignment: Players assign dice to actions such as Capture, Protect, Distract, Insight, and Capture x 3.

Beast Reaction: After each player’s turn, the beast reacts based on rolled dice, potentially moving away from the suitcase or attacking players.

Cooperative Play: Players can share dice to help each other perform actions.

Game Objective

The objective is to capture 5 beasts by moving them into Newt’s suitcase before two beasts escape or any player’s health is reduced to zero.

Player Experience

**Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit** is praised for its engaging cooperative gameplay and thematic connection to the Fantastic Beasts series. Players work together, utilizing unique character abilities and Insight cards to overcome challenges. The game is relatively quick, with an average playtime of 45 minutes, making it accessible for families and fans of the Wizarding World. The game’s difficulty scales well across different player counts, and the art from the movies adds to the immersive experience.

Pros

Cooperative Fun: Encourages teamwork and strategy.

Thematic Integration: Strongly connected to the Fantastic Beasts movie universe.

Easy to Learn: Simple, yet engaging rules.

Variety in Characters: Each character has unique strengths, adding replay value.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Cons

Limited Beast Variety: Only 12 beasts included, which can lead to repetitive gameplay after multiple plays.

Luck Element: Dice rolling introduces an element of chance, which can be frustrating at times.

Personal Thoughts on Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit

**Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit** is an excellent addition to any family game collection, especially for fans of the Wizarding World. It offers a light, yet challenging cooperative experience that is easy to learn and fun to play. The game is ideal for families with younger children and for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay with a thematic twist. However, players seeking deeper, more complex game mechanics might find it a bit superficial. Nonetheless, it is a great filler game that promotes teamwork and strategy in a delightful and magical setting.

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