Wayward (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Wayward is a cooperative board game based on the comic book series of the same name, created by Jim Zub and Steven Cummings. The game was released in 2019 by IDW Games and is designed for 1 to 5 players aged 14 and above. The players take on the roles of teenagers with supernatural abilities in modern-day Tokyo, fighting against the Yokai – Japanese demons.

Game Components of Wayward

5 unique hero characters

5 adversary scenarios

Yokai cards with various effects

Upgrade tracks and points

Dice for combat resolution

Monster event cards

Character cards with unique abilities

Weave tokens representing mystical energy

How To Setup Wayward

To set up the game, players first choose one of the five unique heroes to control, each with their own strengths and abilities. For example, Ayane excels in combat, while Emi’s steel skin absorbs damage. The game board is set up according to the chosen scenario, with each scenario having its own objectives and requirements for victory. The Yokai cards and monster event cards are shuffled and placed within reach of the players. Each player starts with a set amount of energy and upgrade points are distributed to encourage balanced character development.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Gameplay: Players work together to defeat Yokai and the main adversary.

Combat System: Players decide how much energy to spend and roll dice, with a risk vs. reward mechanic.

Upgrade System: Three upgrade tracks that can be advanced in any order, with points distributed evenly among players.

Variable Scenarios: Five unique adversaries, each with its own objectives and challenges.

Objective: Defeat all proxy tokens of the main adversary before the Weave completely unravels.

Player Experience

Players take turns in three phases, managing energy, rolling dice, and resolving combat. The game encourages players to play to their character’s strengths, with Ayane smashing Yokai and Emi absorbing damage. The upgrade system ensures that all characters can contribute meaningfully. However, managing Yokai cards and their various effects can be fiddly, and monster event cards can feel random and swingy.

Pros

Unique Mechanics: Fresh new mechanics, especially in the combat and upgrade systems.

Character and Scenario Variety: Each hero and adversary feels unique, offering a lot of replay value.

Cooperative Fun: Encourages teamwork and strategy among players.

Comic Book Integration: Faithfully adapts the comic book series, making it enjoyable for fans.

Cons

Yokai Card Management: Can be fiddly due to multiple ongoing effects and reset conditions.

Random Event Cards: Monster event cards can feel random and not entirely necessary.

Personal Thoughts on Wayward

**Wayward** is ideal for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy the comic book series. It offers a fun and challenging experience with its unique mechanics and variable scenarios. While it may have some minor flaws in card management and event card randomness, it remains a solid addition to any cooperative game collection. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategic teamwork with a compelling theme, **Wayward** is definitely worth checking out.

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