Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Board Game (2018) Board Game

Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Board Game is a tabletop game based on the iconic 1982 fantasy film, The Dark Crystal, directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. The game was released in 2018 by Crazy Pawn Games, and is designed for 2-4 players aged 14 and up. With its cooperative gameplay and thematic elements, the game aims to immerse players in the rich and mystical world of The Dark Crystal.

Game Components of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Board Game

4 collectible figurines: Jen, Kira, SkekSil, and SkekUng.

Game board: A 2′ × 2′ board featuring Aughra’s Observatory, the Valley of the Stones, and the Crystal Castle.

Cards: 25 World cards, 9 Mystic cards, 7 Skeksis cards, and 15 Minion cards.

Dice: 6 polyhedral dice (D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20).

Character sheets and Special Ability cards: 4 character sheets and 4 Special Ability cards.

Tokens and stand-ups: Over 20 game tokens, cardboard stand-ups for Garthim, Slave Podlings, Gourmand Skeksis, and Slave-Master Skeksis.

Orrery turn track: With plastic connector.

How To Setup Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Board Game

To set up the game, players need to assemble the game board, which includes the Crystal Palace with six chambers and the Valley of the Stones. Each player selects their character and places their figurine on the starting space. The game components such as cards, dice, and tokens are distributed according to the rules outlined in the 24-page rules booklet.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Dice rolling for resolving actions and challenges.
– Point-to-point movement around the board.
– Card play for special abilities and events.

Game Objective:
– Players control either the Gelflings (Jen and Kira) or the Skeksis (SkekSil and SkekUng).
– The Gelflings must find the lost shard of the Dark Crystal and return it to the Crystal Castle before the Great Conjunction.
– The Skeksis must prevent the Gelflings from healing the Dark Crystal to maintain their rule over Thra.

Player Experience

This game offers a cooperative or competitive experience, depending on the player configuration. For 2-4 players, the game can be played with one player controlling both Gelflings and another controlling the Skeksis, or in a team-based mode where players work together as Gelflings against the Skeksis controlled by the game mechanics. The game is designed for players aged 14 and up and typically lasts 1 to 2 hours.

Pros

Thematic Immersion: Deeply rooted in the world of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, making it a must-have for fans.

Collectible Figurines: High-quality figurines of the main characters.

Engaging Mechanics: A mix of dice rolling and card play that keeps the game exciting.

Beautiful Artwork: The game board and components feature inspiring new artwork from the movie.

Cons

Complex Rulebook: The 24-page rules booklet can be overwhelming for new players.

Limited Player Count: The game is designed for 2-4 players, which may not be ideal for larger groups.

Time-Consuming Setup: Setting up the game can take some time due to the numerous components.

Personal Thoughts on Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Board Game

This game is perfect for fans of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and those who enjoy team-based games with a strong narrative. It offers a challenging and immersive experience that captures the essence of the original film. While it may have a steep learning curve due to the complex rules, the payoff in terms of thematic immersion and gameplay satisfaction makes it well worth the effort.

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