Frankenstein is a board game based on the classic novel by Mary Shelley. It was released in 2019 and designed by David G. Forés. The game combines elements of horror and set collection, allowing players to immerse themselves in the world of the iconic monster.
Game Components of Abomination
Worker pieces: Scientists and assistants for each player.Resource cubes: Representing organs, bones, muscles, and blood.Leyden jars: For storing electricity to animate body parts.Ice blocks: To preserve materials from decomposition.Research cards: Providing in-game boosts or improving odds of animating body parts.Humanity, Reputation, and Expertise tracks: For managing player statistics.Event and encounter cards: Introducing various challenges and opportunities.City board: A map of Paris with various locations for worker placement.Player boards: For tracking progress and resources.
How To Setup Abomination
Setup involves each player receiving a unique character with asymmetric special abilities, along with their scientist and assistant worker pieces. The City board is prepared with various locations, and players start with basic resources. Event and encounter cards are shuffled and placed within reach. Each player’s board is set up to track their resources, body parts, and statistics.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Worker Placement: Players place their scientists and assistants on various locations in Paris to gather resources, research, and perform other actions.Resource Collection: Gathering materials like organs, bones, muscles, and blood to construct body parts.Lab Phase: Using collected resources to construct and animate body parts.Animation: Rolling dice using Leyden jars to bring body parts to life, with potential risks of damage or degradation.Stat Management: Managing Humanity, Reputation, and Expertise tracks to gain or lose points.Game Objective: The first player to fully create and animate their monster wins, or the game ends when Captain Walton reaches the Creature.
Player Experience
Players immerse themselves in a dark, gothic horror theme, navigating the ethical dilemmas of creating life from dead body parts. The game is highly thematic, with each mechanic supporting the narrative. Players must balance their humanity, reputation, and expertise while racing to complete their monster. The game’s atmosphere is enhanced by the detailed graphic design and the engaging storyline.
Pros
Highly Thematic: The game seamlessly integrates its mechanics with the narrative.Engaging Gameplay: Worker placement and resource collection are engaging and challenging.Moral Dilemmas: Players face tough choices that impact their game and thematic experience.Unique Characters: Each player has asymmetric special abilities.Atmospheric Design: Excellent graphic design and illustration capture the gothic horror theme.
Cons
Grotesque Theme: The game’s dark and disturbing theme may not appeal to all players.Replay Value: The game’s general arc remains similar across plays, potentially limiting long-term replay value.Complex Setup: Initial setup can be time-consuming and complex.
Personal Thoughts on Abomination
**Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein** is ideal for fans of gothic horror and worker placement games. It offers a unique blend of strategy and thematic immersion, making it a standout in its genre. However, due to its dark and disturbing theme, it may not be suitable for all audiences. The game is best for those who enjoy complex, thematic experiences and are willing to delve into the darker aspects of the Frankenstein narrative.
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