Black Souls (2018) Board Game

Black Souls is a board game that was released in 2018, designed by Len Peralta and featuring artwork by Medieval Lords. The game falls under the categories of Adventure, Exploration, Medieval, and has a Video Game Theme. With a runtime of 45-60 minutes, Black Souls can accommodate 1-6 players, making it a versatile game for different group sizes.

Game Components of Black Souls

Modular board

Tiles with varying difficulties, including boss tiles

Bid cards for determining player order and bonus actions

Party member cards and wooden cubes (blue, red, white, and black)

Rulebook, though criticized for its dense paragraphs and typographical errors.

How To Setup Black Souls

To set up the game, players begin by creating a dungeon level through a series of blind bidding, tile drafting, and placement. Each player uses bid cards to determine their order and gain bonus actions. The tiles are placed to form the dungeon, with each tile indicating the difficulty level and the potential number of party members that could be killed when entering that part of the level.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction/Bidding: Players use bid cards to determine their order and gain bonus actions.

Modular Board: Players create the dungeon level by placing tiles.

Pattern Building: Tiles are drafted and placed to form the dungeon.

Set Collection: Players collect party member cards.

Tile Placement: Strategic placement of tiles to create the dungeon level.
The objective is to design a dungeon level that is challenging enough to kill many party members while still having some alive at the end to qualify for bonus scoring.

Player Experience

The gameplay is divided into two phases: the design phase and the game phase. During the design phase, players create the dungeon level, which can be confusing due to inconsistencies in tile difficulties and component mismatches. The game phase, however, is more engaging as players navigate through the dungeon they created, making strategic decisions on which party members to sacrifice.

Pros

Strategic Gameplay: The game phase offers a satisfying and strategic experience as players navigate the dungeon they designed.

Unique Concept: The idea of designing a dungeon level and then navigating through it is innovative.

Varied Gameplay: Supports 1 to 6 players, offering flexibility in player count.

Cons

Poor Component Quality: Mistakes in component colors and inconsistencies in tile difficulties can confuse players.

Confusing Rulebook: The rulebook is dense and hard to read, with multiple typos.

Amateurish Presentation: The game lacks attention to detail in its design and presentation.

Personal Thoughts on Black Souls

**Black Souls** is for fans of adventure and exploration games who are willing to overlook some significant flaws in design and component quality. While it has a unique and engaging concept, the execution falls short. It might appeal to those interested in game design and dungeon creation, but the frustrations with the rulebook and component errors may deter casual players. With some careful revisions and attention to detail, this game could have realized its full potential.

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