Leviathan Wilds is a board game designed by Samuel R. Shimota and published by Moon Crab Games. It was released in 2024 and falls under the categories of adventure, card game, fantasy, and fighting, with a video game theme. The game is designed for 1-4 players, with the best experience being for 2 players. The runtime of the game is between 45-90 minutes, making it a great option for a quick game night.
Game Components of Leviathan Wilds
17 unique Leviathan maps8 Characters and 8 Classes for deck creationClimber miniaturesGrip decks (personal decks for each climber)Action Point (AP) cardsThreat cardsCorrupting crystal tokensFriendly mushroom tokensHealth trackersRulebook
How To Setup Leviathan Wilds
Setting up Leviathan Wilds involves several steps:
Choose a Leviathan map and place it on the playing surface.Each player selects a Character and a Class, then creates their Grip deck by combining the respective card sets.Shuffle and deal the starting hand of cards to each player.Determine the starting player.Place the corrupting crystal tokens and friendly mushroom tokens on the Leviathan map according to the specific Leviathan’s setup rules.Prepare the Threat deck and draw the first threat card.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Game Category: Cooperative, SoloMechanics: Hand Management, Deck Building, Action Point Allowance System, Cooperative PlayObjective: Players work together to climb a massive Leviathan and destroy all corrupting crystals on its body.Turn Structure: Reveal the next threat card, play a single card from your hand using the provided AP to move, recover health, shuffle cards, or damage crystals.Threat Resolution: Resolve the threat card at the end of the turn, which can affect players directly or across a pattern on the map.Deck Management: Manage your Grip deck carefully, as emptying it causes you to fall down the Leviathan.Movement: Movement is asymmetric, with different AP costs for moving up, across, or down the map.
Player Experience
Playing Leviathan Wilds is an engaging and cinematic experience. Players feel invested in their climber’s journey, making strategic decisions about card usage and movement. The game’s dynamic mechanics ensure that there is no downtime, even with multiple players. The sense of accomplishment is high, especially when defeating the more challenging Leviathans.
Pros
Accessible Co-op Puzzle: Easy to learn but deep in strategy.Seamless Mechanisms: Setting, theme, and mechanics work together flawlessly.Hopeful and Positive Message: Focuses on conservation and cooperation.Tremendous Replay Value: 17 unique Leviathans and various climber configurations.Fun and Cinematic Experience: Players feel awesome executing maneuvers and managing attacks.
Cons
Occasionally Anticlimactic Ending: Some players find the final stages less intense than the rest of the game.Complex Setup: Requires careful preparation and deck building.
Personal Thoughts on Leviathan Wilds
Leviathan Wilds is an excellent choice for those looking for a light to medium complexity solo or cooperative game. It’s ideal for players who enjoy strategic hand management, deck building, and cooperative puzzle-solving. The game’s positive message and cinematic experience make it appealing to a wide range of players, including families and experienced gamers. If you’re a fan of games like Pandemic or Shadow of the Colossus, Leviathan Wilds is definitely worth checking out.
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