

Publisher: Draw Distance
Year Published: 2019
No. of Players: 1-4
Ages: 14+
Playing Time: 60-90 Minutes
Find more info on BoardGameGeek.com
"I love horror movies. I mean, who doesn't like a good horror movie every once in a while? It's fun to get scared"
-Tara Reid
I love horror movies. I mean, who doesn't like a good horror movie every once in a while? It's fun to get scared. Tara Reid
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/horror
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/horror
From the publisher:
Rules and Setup:
Each player takes a character health card & markers and a set of cards. Make a 4x5 grid on the table with the location cards and place them face down. Put the killer in the middle between the cards and place each character on any corner card and place it face up.
Theme:
Horror games often contain themes and imagery depicting morbid and supernatural elements.
Mechanics:
The main mechanic is dice rolling, but there are two others almost equally as important.
The simultaneous action-selection mechanic lets players secretly choose their actions. After they are revealed, the actions resolve following the ruleset of the game.
Variable Player Powers is a mechanic that grants different abilities and/or paths to victory to the players. To illustrate, here are some notable examples. In Ogre, one player controls a single powerful piece, and the other plays many weaker units. The net effect is a balanced game. In Cosmic Encounter, each player is assigned a random special ability at the beginning of the game. Although each player has the same victory goal (establish colonies on five planets in other players' systems), their abilities enable differing means to the end. In Here I Stand, each player controls a political power with unique ways to score victory points. Some focus on military conquest, some on religious influence, etc.
Game Play:
On each player’s turn, they will select their action in secret and reveal simultaneously with the other players. It’s up to the players to explore the rooms to find weapons and items which will be essential for survival. Exploring is key because the main item players are looking for are 2 Keys which will unlock the Exit. However, if you’re not the searching type, you can also go the hunting route, since every participant has a key sewn into their body, thanks to the Master of Ceremony, the deadly game master who controls the labyrinth from afar.
On each player’s turn, they will select their action in secret and reveal simultaneously with the other players. It’s up to the players to explore the rooms to find weapons and items which will be essential for survival. Exploring is key because the main item players are looking for are 2 Keys which will unlock the Exit. However, if you’re not the searching type, you can also go the hunting route, since every participant has a key sewn into their body, thanks to the Master of Ceremony, the deadly game master who controls the labyrinth from afar.
So here is the breakdown. On each turn players will secretly select an action and then simultaneously reveal it. Players are searching the rooms for keys and/or weapons, obviously the key is... the key to the game (Stop, you know you love that pun). So you can find a key.. or you can go into hunting mode and kill another player and take the key that has been sewn inside their body. At the end of each turn the person with the first player token becomes the master. The can close off rooms, drop gifts to entice certain players to certain parts of the board, oh and control the killer who is heel bent on killing all of you (Did you think he was just going to hand you a key and tell you to have a nice day?) When a player dies they take over the role of master of ceremony and make it their mission to kill the other players. So get two keys, don't die.
At the end of each turn, the First Player temporarily takes controls of the Master. In this phase, they gain the ability to directly influence the game board, such as closing off rooms or strategically dropping enticing gifts. They also can direct The Killer, a deadly beast of a man who is ruthless in his hunt of the hapless participants.
Artwork and Components:
The art for the rooms is dark and creepy, and it fits perfectly. This is minor, but I love the fact that the killer miniature is red. It's such an obvious choice I know, but it's perfect.
The Bad:
The horror theme might be too intense for some people.
Final Thoughts:
I feel that in a lot of games you are just fighting to fight, but that is not the case here. This guy is 100% trying to kill you. That is motivation to fight another player and take their key...which is sewn into their body. Don't be squeamish now; if you're willing to kill you're willing to cut a key outta someone. Now's not the time to split hairs.
Players Who Like:
Horror movies, Hidden Action, Trying Not To Die.
Check out Halls of Horror on:
See James's reviews HERE.
Artwork and Components:
The art for the rooms is dark and creepy, and it fits perfectly. This is minor, but I love the fact that the killer miniature is red. It's such an obvious choice I know, but it's perfect.
The Good:
This game can be tense, as it should be. You feel stressed out that you have a killer stalking you.
The Bad:
The horror theme might be too intense for some people.
Final Thoughts:
I feel that in a lot of games you are just fighting to fight, but that is not the case here. This guy is 100% trying to kill you. That is motivation to fight another player and take their key...which is sewn into their body. Don't be squeamish now; if you're willing to kill you're willing to cut a key outta someone. Now's not the time to split hairs.
Horror movies, Hidden Action, Trying Not To Die.
Coming to KICKSTARTER May 16, 2019. Join the Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and Kickstarter information leading up to the launch.

James Freeman - Reviewer
James is a child of the 80's he grew playing D&D and Stratego. He currently owns more games than his understanding wife of 20+ years thinks he should. James lives in Buffalo, New York with his previously mentioned wife, 2 teenage kids and one Havanese dog. Also, if someone outside of Buffalo says they serve buffalo wings, they are lying.
See James's reviews HERE.
Halls of Horror Kickstarter Preview
Reviewed by James Freeman
on
April 16, 2019
Rating:

Added to my KS list for the next month ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
Delete