Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein (2019) Board Game

Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein is a horror-themed board game released in 2019 by Plaid Hat Games. It is designed by Dan Blanchett and features artwork by Mikhail Palamarchuk and Tony Sart. The game is set in the world of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein, where players take on the role of scientists competing to create the most impressive creature.

Game Components of Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein

Game Board: A map representing Paris in 1819 with various locations for resource collection and research.

Player Boards: For tracking player stats such as Humanity, Reputation, and Expertise.

Workers: Scientists and Assistants for placement on the board.

Resource Cubes: Representing organs, blood, bones, and muscles.

Encounter and Event Cards: Introducing story elements and challenges.

Leyden Jars: For storing electric current to animate body parts.

Dice: For determining the success of animating body parts.

Body Part Cards: For constructing the monster.

Corpses and Animal Parts Cards: For acquiring materials.

How To Setup Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein

Setting up the game involves placing the game board, shuffling the event and encounter decks, distributing player boards and workers, and initializing each player’s stats. Players start with a unique character and asymmetric special abilities. The game components are organized to reflect the dark, gothic theme of the game, with detailed artwork and sturdy game elements[4>.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their workers on various locations in Paris to gather resources, conduct research, and acquire body parts.

Resource Collection: Gathering organs, blood, bones, and muscles, which can be substituted with animal parts.

Lab Phase: Constructing and animating body parts using resources and Leyden jars.

Event and Encounter Cards: Introducing narrative elements and challenges that affect gameplay.

Game Objective: The goal is to be the first player to bring their monster to life or accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game, which lasts 12 rounds or until a player succeeds in animating all body parts.

Player Experience

Playing **Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein** is a deeply immersive experience, especially for those who enjoy horror and gothic themes. The game is mechanically well-designed, with each mechanic supporting the narrative of creating a monstrous creature. Players must manage their Humanity, Reputation, and Expertise stats, which influence their ability to construct and animate body parts. The game’s dark and disturbing theme is balanced by its engaging mechanics, making it a unique and memorable experience.

Pros

Thematic Depth: The game is heavily thematic, staying true to the Frankenstein narrative.

Mechanical Integrity: Well-designed mechanics that support the game’s theme.

Immersive Experience: Engaging gameplay with a strong narrative element.

Replayability: High replay value due to random event and encounter cards.

Cons

Game Length: Can be lengthy, typically lasting 90-180 minutes.

Disturbing Theme: Not suitable for all audiences due to its dark and gruesome content.

Complexity: Decision-making can become fiddly, especially when managing resources and stats.

Personal Thoughts on Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein

**Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein** is ideal for players who enjoy horror themes and are comfortable with the dark, often disturbing content. It is a game that takes itself seriously but still manages to offer a fun, though grim, gaming experience. This game is not for everyone, especially children or those sensitive to graphic themes, but for fans of gothic horror and worker placement games, it is a standout title. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with a rich narrative, this might be the perfect addition to your gaming collection.

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