Monster Maker (1988) Board Game

Monster Maker is a board game released in 1988 by Alice Soft. Designed by Ginichiro Suzuki and featuring artwork by Kugatsuhime, Monster Maker falls into the card game, fantasy, and racing categories. The game revolves around creating monsters in an anime/manga theme, making it a unique and engaging experience for players.

Game Components of Monster Maker

125 Labyrinth Cards

25 Treasure Cards

Outward/Return Panels

Game Progress Cards

Character Cards

Monster Cards

Cleric Cards

Trap Cards

Detour Cards

Treasure Chamber Cards

White and black 6-sided dice

How To Setup Monster Maker

To set up the game, start by shuffling all 125 Labyrinth Cards and placing them on the table. Next, shuffle the 25 Treasure Cards and place them separately. Each player is distributed 5 cards each from the Outward/Return Panels, Game Progress Cards, and Labyrinth Cards. If a Trap Card is included in the initial five cards, return it to the deck and redraw it.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Moving the Labyrinth: Players select a Labyrinth Card from their hand and reveal it to move through the labyrinth.

Treasure Collection: Players can draw Treasure Cards by using Treasure Room Cards, with each player able to hold up to two Treasure Cards.

Monster Placement: Players can place Monster Cards in other players’ labyrinths to hinder their progress.

Combat: Players must defeat any monsters placed in their labyrinth before continuing.

Objective: The goal is to collect the most valuable treasure by navigating through the labyrinth and surviving.

Player Experience

Playing **Monster Maker** involves a mix of strategy and luck. The game is designed to be simple yet engaging, making it accessible to players with little board game experience. A typical game with four players takes about an hour, including time to understand the rules, but can be completed in 30-40 minutes once familiar.

Pros

Easy to learn and set up

Simple yet engaging gameplay

Suitable for players aged 8 and above

Supports 2 to 6 players

High replayability due to random card draws

Cons

May feel too simple for experienced gamers

Dependent on luck due to card draws

Personal Thoughts on Monster Maker

**Monster Maker** is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a fun, quick game session. The game’s simplicity and short playtime make it a great introduction to more complex board games. However, experienced gamers might find it too straightforward and lacking in depth. Overall, it’s a charming and nostalgic game that has been remade to retain its original fun while being more time-efficient.

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