My Father’s Work (2022) Board Game

My Father’s Work is a horror-themed board game published by Renegade Game Studios in in 2022. Designed by T. C. Petty III, the game features a unique blend of events, hand management, narrative choice/paragraph, storytelling, and worker placement mechanics. Players take on the roles of investigators exploring a mysterious town where supernatural occurrences are happening.

Game Components of My Father’s Work

Player boards and pieces: Each player has a colored set of bits, an Estate board, a player aid card, and a Storage Shed Estate tile.

Characters: Six types of characters, including the player, spouse, groundskeeper, and servants, each with unique bases (hexagon, round, circular with spikes, and square).

Experiment cards: A, B, and C-level experiments with specific requirements and rewards.

Village Chronicle: A spiral-bound book of town maps and layouts that change with each scenario.

App: An essential component that drives the narrative and provides story points, decisions, and tracking for the game.

Score tracker and tracks: For Creepiness, Insanity, and recorded knowledge.

Resource tokens and chits: For managing resources and provisions.

How To Setup My Father’s Work

To set up the game, start by assembling the common board area with the score tracker and the large, empty space in the center. Place the unopened Village Chronicle binder in this space. Each player selects a color and takes the corresponding player mat and pieces. Players place their characters (themselves, spouse, and groundskeeper) on their player board and position their unique markers. The app is then opened to select the scenario, name the nearby village, and characters, which guides the initial setup and provides the starting page in the Village Chronicle.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players send their characters to various locations to acquire resources and conduct experiments.

Resource Management: Managing resources to complete experiments and upgrade the estate.

App-driven Narrative: The app provides story points, decisions, and branching paths through the game.

Generational Play: The game spans three generations, each with three rounds. Players carry over some knowledge and experiments between generations.

Objective: Earn points by completing experiments, aiding the town, and upgrading the estate. The player with the most points at the end of three generations wins.

Player Experience

Playing My Father’s Work is an immersive experience, especially with the app-driven narrative. Players must balance between conducting experiments, managing resources, and interacting with the town, all while dealing with the consequences of their actions, such as increasing Creepiness and Insanity. Each generation offers new challenges and opportunities, and the branching narrative ensures high replayability. However, the game is notably long, especially with more players, and the extensive reading required can slow down the game.

Pros

Engaging Narrative: The app provides a rich, dynamic story that changes with each playthrough.

Replayability: Multiple scenarios and branching paths offer a high level of replayability.

Thematic Depth: The game’s mad scientist theme is well-integrated into the mechanics and narrative.

Legacy-style Gameplay: Carries some elements of legacy games but condenses the experience into a single campaign.

Cons

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can take 2-4 hours, depending on the number of players.

Extensive Reading: The app’s narrative can lead to significant reading time, which may slow down the game.

Luck in Card Draws: Experiment card draws can significantly impact gameplay, introducing an element of luck.

Personal Thoughts on My Father’s Work

My Father’s Work is ideal for players who enjoy deep, thematic games with a strong narrative focus. It is particularly suited for groups of 2 players, as the gameplay time is significantly shorter and more manageable. For larger groups, the investment of time and effort may be substantial, but the game’s unique mechanics and replayability make it worth considering. However, it is not recommended for solo players, as there is no solo mode available.

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