Welcome to the Dungeon (2013) Board Game

Welcome to the Dungeon is a bluffing and push-your-luck card game that was released in 2013 by IELLO. Designed by Hisanori Hiraoka and Masato Uesugi, the game is set in a fantasy world where players take on the roles of heroes attempting to survive the dangers of a dungeon.

Game Components of Welcome to the Dungeon

13 Monster Cards

28 Tiles

4 Player Aids

8 Success Cards

1 Rulebook

Equipment and health items.

How To Setup Welcome to the Dungeon

To set up the game, players start by placing the deck of monster cards and the equipment tokens within reach. Each player selects a player aid card. The objective is to dare each other to enter the dungeon with progressively less equipment. The game begins with players taking turns either adding monsters to the dungeon or removing equipment, until one player is left to enter the dungeon.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Push-your-luck: Players decide when to stop adding monsters or removing equipment.

Bluffing: Players try to mislead others about the dangers in the dungeon.

Memory: Players need to remember which monsters and equipment have been placed or removed.

Game Objective

The goal is to be the last warrior standing or to successfully beat the dungeon twice.

Players take turns setting aside equipment or adding monsters to the dungeon.

The game ends when one player enters the dungeon and either succeeds or fails based on the remaining equipment and the monsters in the dungeon.

Player Experience

Welcome to the Dungeon is an extremely light and breezy game that adds a dose of bluffing and misdirection. The gameplay revolves around deciding the right moment to enter the dungeon, which is heavily influenced by memory and the ability to infer what other players have done. The game is easy to play but lacks depth, making it more about intuition and probability rather than complex strategies.

Pros

Simple and quick to play.

Engaging bluffing and push-your-luck mechanics.

Visually accessible with distinctive card art and well-contrasted numbers.

Can be played with support for players with physical impairments.

Cons

Lack of depth and complexity.

Heavy reliance on memory, which can be challenging for some players.

Potential for confusion if the monster card deck runs out, although this is resolved when the last player remaining enters the dungeon.

Personal Thoughts on Welcome to the Dungeon

Welcome to the Dungeon is ideal for those looking for a light, casual gaming experience with a touch of strategy. It’s perfect for groups that enjoy bluffing and push-your-luck games but may not be the best fit for players seeking complex gameplay or deep strategic depth. The game’s accessibility features make it a good option for players with certain impairments, as long as there is some level of visual ability or support from other players.

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