Inferno (2024) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Inferno is a board game released in 2024, designed by David Benzal and Cristian Casado Otazu, featuring artwork by Red Mojo. It falls under the categories of Economic, Fantasy, Horror, Medieval, and Miniatures, appealing to players aged 14 and above. The game involves strategic gameplay with elements of grid movement, loans, market mechanics, and matching.

Game Components of Inferno

Central Board: Divided into two parts, one displaying the 9 circles of Hell and the soul registry, and the other representing Florence in the early 14th century.

Player Tokens: Used for tracking progress and actions.

Soul Tokens: Representing sinners to be guided through Hell.

Action Cards: For playing actions at city locations.

Guardians: Mythical figures like Medusa, King Midas, and Cerberus, introducing variability and unique abilities.

Family Tower: For building and resource management.

Florins and Drachmes: Currency for trading and resource management.

Diplomas: Awarded for advancing on the sin tracks.

How To Setup Inferno

To set up Inferno, players first assemble the central board, ensuring the two parts are correctly aligned. Each player selects their tokens and places them at the starting positions on the board. The soul registry and Hell circles are prepared, and the guardians are randomly selected and placed. Players also receive their starting resources and action cards. The game board is adjusted based on the number of players, with a dual-sided board catering to different player counts.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Inferno Phase: Players advance souls through Hell, earning Infamy Points for successfully guiding them to their corresponding circles.

Florence Phase: Players choose between playing an action at a city location (e.g., adopting a street urchin, building a new level of the family tower) or exposing a sinner, leading to their execution and the soul’s descent into Hell.

Sin Tracking: Players advance on the sin tracks by exposing sinners, with Dante’s descent through Hell triggering various bonuses and eventual game end.

Resource Management: Managing resources like Florins and Drachmes, and building the family tower.

Guardian Abilities: Utilizing unique abilities of the randomly selected guardians.

Game Objective: The player with the most Infamy Points at the end of the game is declared the winner and deemed untrustworthy.

Player Experience

Inferno offers a deeply strategic and thematically rich experience, blending the narrative of Dante’s journey with intricate gameplay mechanics. Players must balance guiding souls to their rightful layers in Hell with engaging in city actions and sin tracking. The game demands thoughtful planning, resource management, and strategic foresight, making it engaging for players who enjoy complex and intellectually stimulating games. The presence of mythical guardians adds a layer of variability, ensuring no two games feel the same.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Requires thoughtful planning and strategic foresight.

Thematic Richness: Immersive narrative based on Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Variability: Randomly selected guardians and adjustable game board for different player counts.

Engaging Mechanics: Balance between guiding souls and city actions keeps the game dynamic.

Stunning Artwork: Enhanced by the artwork of David Benzal and Cristian Casado Otazu.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to multiple mechanics.

Length: Game sessions can span between 45 to 120 minutes, which may be too long for some players.

Learning Curve: Requires time to understand and master the various game phases and actions.

Personal Thoughts on Inferno

Inferno is ideal for players who relish games that require careful planning, resource management, and strategic thinking. It is perfect for fans of thematic euro games and those interested in the narrative of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The game’s complexity and length make it more suited for experienced gamers or those willing to invest time in understanding its mechanics. If you enjoy a challenging and intellectually stimulating board game experience, Inferno is definitely worth exploring.

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