Descent: Legends of the Dark (2021) Board Game

Descent: Legends of the Dark is a board game released in 2021 by Fantasy Flight Games. It is a cooperative adventure game set in a dark, fantasy world where players take on the roles of heroes battling against evil forces. The game is designed by Kara Centell-Dunk and Nathan I. Hajek, with artwork by Preston Stone and Gary Storkamp. It is a highly thematic game that incorporates elements of fantasy, fighting, and miniatures, making it an immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Descent: Legends of the Dark

46 pieces of 3D terrain: Including trees, bookshelves, stairs, and lecterns that can interact with and block line of sight.

40 hero and monster miniatures: Highly detailed and preassembled, ready to play out of the box.

Double-sided cards: For hero sheets, attack cards, and skill cards, offering different abilities on each side.

Companion app: Handles game mechanics, enemy activations, and special abilities, ensuring a seamless experience.

Quest materials and crafting components: For unlocking new skills and crafting new weapons.

How To Setup Descent: Legends of the Dark

Setting up the game involves selecting your heroes and their starting equipment, placing the 3D terrain to create the game environment, and initializing the companion app. The app guides players through the setup process, providing background story and introducing the first mission. Each player chooses one of six unique heroes, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and combat styles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Phase: Each hero takes turns in any order, performing a maneuver action and two additional actions (maneuver, fight, ready, explore, or character-specific actions).

Darkness Phase: Players heal 1 fatigue, and the monsters act based on app instructions.

Combat Mechanics: Players roll dice for attacks, with successes, advantages, and surges determining the outcome. The app manages monster health, armor, and special powers.

Exploration: Players interact with 3D terrain and tokens using the app, which can involve investigating corpses, opening treasure chests, or climbing trees.

Skill and Weapon Management: Cards are double-sided, allowing players to flip them to unlock new abilities and clear fatigue tokens.

Campaign Progression: Players earn experience, unlock new skills, and craft new weapons as they progress through the 14 main quests of the Blood and Flame campaign.

Player Experience

Descent: Legends of the Dark offers an immersive and dynamic experience, blending the feel of a video game with the engagement of a tabletop game. Players delve into the world of Terrinoth, battling monsters, exploring detailed environments, and making strategic decisions. The game’s narrative is creative and full of surprises, with unexpected turns of events that keep players engaged. The companion app streamlines administrative tasks, allowing players to focus on gameplay and strategy.

Pros

Immersive Storyline: The game features a rich narrative with unexpected turns and layered scenarios.

Streamlined Mechanics: The app handles complex game management, making the game more engaging and fun.

High-Quality Components: Beautifully sculpted miniatures and detailed 3D terrain enhance the gaming experience.

Replayability: Different heroes and app-driven variations ensure multiple unique playthroughs.

Solo and Cooperative Play: The game excels in both solo and cooperative modes, offering a great experience for different player preferences.

Cons

Pacing Issues: Some players find the lack of urgency and pacing to be a drawback, allowing too much time for positioning and farming materials.

Balance Issues: There are reports of balance issues with enemy spawns and difficulty levels in some scenarios.

Arbitrary Surprises: Some surprises and enemy spawns can feel arbitrary and annoying rather than challenging.

Personal Thoughts on Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent: Legends of the Dark is ideal for fans of RPG-style board games and dungeon crawlers. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy immersive narratives, strategic gameplay, and high-quality game components. While it may not be perfect, with some pacing and balance issues, it stands as a benchmark for future dungeon crawler games. For new players to the genre, this game offers an excellent introduction, and for veterans, it provides a fresh take on the classic dungeon crawl experience. However, it might not satisfy those seeking a more grindy, tactical miniatures game experience.

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.