Gloomy Graves (2020) Board Game

Gloomy Graves is a board game designed by Jeffrey D. Allers and published by Renegade Game Studios in in 2020. It falls under the categories of fantasy, horror, and puzzle, offering a unique gameplay experience for 2 to 4 players. The game includes elements of hand management, layering, open drafting, pattern building, and set collection, providing a challenging and engaging experience for players.

Game Components of Gloomy Graves

A deck of domino cards, each with one of five types of corpses or a gravedigger (wildcard) on each side

Score cards for each of the five corpse types

Private and communal graveyard areas

Rulebook

How To Setup Gloomy Graves

To set up Gloomy Graves, prepare the deck based on the player count: for 2 players, remove cards marked with two shovels and three random cards; for 3 players, remove cards marked with three shovels; and for 4 players, remove one random card. Create the corpse row by shuffling the prepared deck and revealing three cards. Deal two more cards face-up to the center, forming a 2×2 communal graveyard. Each player is dealt five cards, from which they choose one to reveal and start their private crypt. Sort the score cards and ensure they are available for scoring.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Drafting and Laying: Players play two cards per turn, one to their private crypt and one to the communal graveyard.

Grave Building: Follow specific rules for card placement, such as not covering gravediggers unless with another gravedigger, and not tucking cards under other cards.

Scoring: Score graves by summing contiguous plots of a chosen color in both the private and communal graveyards, using gravediggers as wildcards.

Game Objective

Build gravesites to score points by creating the largest contiguous groups of corpse colors.

Use gravediggers strategically to cover or score any color.

The game ends when a player collects five scoring cards or the draw deck is exhausted.

Player Experience

Playing Gloomy Graves involves a delicate balance of strategy and tactical card placement. Each turn, players must decide how to expand their private graveyard and the communal graveyard, while also considering the scoring opportunities and potential blocks by opponents. The game’s simplicity belies a depth in card play and scoring, making it engaging as players navigate the growing graveyards and race to score the highest points.

Pros

Color-Blind Friendly: The game is designed to be accessible for color-blind players.

Strategic Depth: Despite its simple mechanics, the game offers a surprising amount of strategic depth in card placement and scoring.

Interactive Gameplay: Players must consider their opponents’ moves to block or collaborate effectively.

Family-Worth Gameplay: Suitable for a wide range of players, from casual to strategic thinkers.

Cons

Theme and Art: The game’s dark fantasy theme and artwork may not appeal to all players, especially children.

Turn-Order Advantage: The first player often has a disadvantage, as subsequent players can build on previous placements more effectively.

Low Variability: The game setup is relatively fixed, leading to low variability between games.

Personal Thoughts on Gloomy Graves

Gloomy Graves is ideal for players who enjoy strategic card games with a touch of theme and interaction. While it may not be the best fit for those seeking highly complex games or light-hearted themes, it offers a unique blend of simplicity and depth that can appeal to a variety of players. The game is particularly suitable for families or casual gaming groups looking for a game that is both engaging and relatively quick to play. However, if you’re looking for a game with high replayability or a more child-friendly theme, you might want to consider other options.

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.