GROWL (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

GROWL is a party game designed by Joey Vigour and published by Vigour Games in in 2019. It falls under the categories of bluffing, card game, deduction, and role-playing. The game is designed for 4-10 players, with the best gameplay experience being with 6-9 players. With a quick runtime of 10-15 minutes, GROWL is suitable for players aged 10 and above.

Game Components of GROWL

Card deck including Bite, Wound, Charm, Salve, and Gold cards

Night cards

Player status tiles

Optional: fun, furry monster bag (Howly Growly pledge level)

How To Setup GROWL

To set up GROWL, players start by distributing a number of Bite and Gold cards equal to the number of players, with the ratio specified in the rule book. Each player receives one card to determine their initial role: Bite cards indicate werewolves, while Gold cards indicate villagers. Unless there are eight or more players, werewolves are not aware of who else starts as a wolf. Each player then receives three additional cards to form their starting hand. The remaining cards are divided into three equal piles, with Night cards placed at the bottom of two piles and a final Night card at the bottom of the last pile. These piles are then stacked to ensure the final Night card is at the bottom.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage cards in their hand to mitigate or inflict Bites and Wounds.

Move Through Deck: Players draw cards one at a time, influencing the game state.

Player Elimination: Players can die from three Wounds or become werewolves from three Bites.

Role Playing: Players act as either humans or werewolves.

Team-Based Game: Humans and werewolves have opposing objectives.

Objective: Humans aim to survive until the end of the third Night, while werewolves aim to turn all humans into werewolves.

Player Experience

GROWL is a quick, family-friendly game that lasts 10-15 minutes, suitable for 4-10 players. It adds a strategic layer to traditional Werewolf games by using cards to provide concrete evidence, reducing guesswork and increasing deduction. Players must pay attention to both what other players say and do, particularly during the Night phase when cards are passed anonymously. This mechanic keeps the game engaging and forces players to be vigilant.

Pros

Quick to Play: Games are short and dynamic.

Easy to Teach: Simple rules make it accessible to new players.

Family Friendly: Suitable for players of all ages.

More Strategy: Uses cards to add depth to Werewolf-style gameplay.

Night Cards Add Replayability: Random placement of Night cards ensures varied gameplay.

Expansions Add Content: Options for additional content to extend the game.

Cons

Less Verbal Interaction: Compared to traditional Werewolf games, there is less emphasis on verbal bluffing.

Player Elimination: Players can be eliminated during the game, which might reduce their engagement.

Coins Feel Like an Afterthought: Gold cards, used to determine the overall winner, can feel less integral to the main gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on GROWL

GROWL is ideal for those who enjoy social deduction games but want a more strategic and less verbally intense experience. It is perfect for families or groups looking for a quick, engaging game that combines strategy with bluffing elements. However, players who prefer the intense verbal interactions of traditional Werewolf games might find GROWL slightly lacking in this aspect. Overall, it offers a nice balance between strategy and social deduction, making it a great addition to any board game collection.

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