Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest (2020) Board Game

Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest is a board game based on the popular Court of the Dead comic book series created by Tom Gilliland and published by Sideshow Collectibles. The game was released in 2020 and was designed by Abigail Larson, with art by Skybound Tabletop. The game is set in the dark and intricate underworld of the Court of the Dead universe, where players take on the roles of powerful beings vying for control in a game of strategy and deception.

Game Components of Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest

42 Tarot-Sized Cards

6 Player Screens

60 Soul Tokens

30 Wooden Influence Cubes

3 Failure Tokens

How To Setup Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest

To set up the game, each player starts with a privacy screen, Faction tokens, and Influence tokens. The gameplay area is organized with stacks for each of the Court types—Flesh, Spirit, and Bone—each with one United card shuffled into the stack. The Harvest deck is prepared with 5 random cards and one final random Harvest card. The game area is also set up with the Income, Court, and Harvest phases clearly defined.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Income Phase: Players receive Souls and Influence tokens.

Court Phase: Players bid on Court cards using Influence tokens and Souls, with the highest bidder winning the card and its effects.

Harvest Phase: Players reveal the top card of the Harvest deck, which demands a certain number of Souls from all players. Success or failure is determined by the collective contribution of Souls, with bonuses or penalties accordingly.

Objective: The player with the most Souls at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

**Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest** offers a fun and engaging experience with its unique 2-currency bidding system, combining political influence and souls. The game is highly interactive, encouraging both cooperation and treachery among players. It is designed for ages 12+ and typically lasts 30-45 minutes.

Pros

Unique Bidding System: Uses both Influence tokens and Souls for bidding.

High Replayability: Multiple paths to victory and various characters to interact with.

Engaging Mechanics: Bidding, bluffing, and strategic gameplay.

Thematic Integration: Well-ties into the Court of the Dead IP.

Cons

Complexity for Younger Players: May be challenging for younger or emotionally sensitive players due to the competitive nature.

Limited Cooperative Elements: While there are cooperative aspects, the game leans more towards competitive gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest

This game is ideal for fans of strategic bidding and bluffing games, particularly those who enjoy the dark fantasy setting of the Court of the Dead. It is suited for older kids and adults who can appreciate the complex interactions and competitive atmosphere. If you have a group that enjoys back-and-forth gameplay and strategic thinking, **Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest** is a great addition to your game collection.

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