Side Quest (2016) Board Game

Side Quest is a cooperative board game that was released in 2016 by Corax Games and Tap To Win. It is designed for 1-4 players and is recommended for ages 8 and up. The game falls under the categories of card game, dice game, and fantasy game, and includes mechanisms such as action points, area movement, and hand management.

Game Components of Side Quest

Cards: 85 cards representing dungeon rooms, monsters, heroes, equipment, spells, villagers, familiars, and health points.

Dice: 2 dice for resolving actions and combat.

No other components: The game is exceptionally minimalistic, relying solely on cards and dice.

How To Setup Side Quest

To set up Side Quest, you start by shuffling the deck of cards. Room cards are dealt in a linear arrangement, representing one floor of the dungeon. Heroes and their equipment are drawn as a hand of cards. The deck is structured so that key cards (allowing progression to the next floor) and boss cards are stacked at the bottom. This ensures that the game unfolds in a predictable yet challenging manner.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Selection Mechanic: Players choose actions such as hacking and slashing, picking up items, casting spells, moving, searching for treasure, and trading equipment.

Dungeon Crawling: Clear rooms by defeating monsters and gathering resources. Each floor is repopulated from the draw deck as players advance.

Resource Management: Manage health points, food, spells, and potions to survive.

Objective: Clear all three floors of the dungeon and defeat the boss to win. If any heroes or villagers die, the game is lost.

Player Experience

Side Quest offers a faithful dungeon crawl experience with a unique twist. It is highly amenable to solo play and can be customized with new scenarios and house rules. The game is straightforward yet challenging, making it perfect for those seeking a quick, high-stakes adventure.

Pros

Portable: The game is very compact and easy to carry.

Solo-Friendly: Designed specifically for solo play, which is a rare feature in dungeon crawlers.

Customizable: Players can create custom bosses, keys, and rooms to extend the game’s replayability.

Quick Setup: Easy to set up and start playing.

Cons

Luck Factor: The game can be heavy on luck, which may affect the balance of gameplay.

Limited Resource Management: Unlike traditional dungeon crawlers, resource management is not as complex or impactful.

Boss Battles: Bosses can be either very easy or very hard, with little middle ground.

Personal Thoughts on Side Quest

Side Quest is ideal for players who enjoy a straightforward, action-packed dungeon crawl without the complexity of extensive resource management. It’s perfect for solo players or those looking for a game that can be easily taken on the go. While it may benefit from some house rules to balance out the luck factor, it scratches the itch for a quick and thrilling adventure.

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