Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition (BASE GAME) | Horror Game | Mystery Board Game for Teens and Adults | Ages 14 and up | 1-5 Players | Average Playtime 2-3 hrs | Made by Fantasy Flight Games

Enjoying this game!

I finally got around to getting this game, and I'm VERY IMPRESSED! With all due respect to the other Arkham Horror Files games I've played (the board game, the LCG, Elder Signs, Final Hour), this one was straightforward to learn, and the app creates a wonderfully frightful atmosphere. The only downside is that it's a very expensive one to collect and play, but there are plenty of adventures out of the box. Also, FFG is giving away the conversion kit for the first edition for free on their website so you can add more investigators, monsters, and unique items. You still need to supply the miniatures, but being a TTRPG player, I have plenty lying around. I highly recommend you play this with friends because the presentation is amazing and really gets you into the horror adventuring experience.

This game gets really great reviews, even for families with teens so I took the bait. My wife and I played with our 13 and 11 year old daughters last night. I will give you information that I would have found useful prior to my purchase of this game. We like to play popular games like Pandemic, and less popular but still fun like Stone Age. This game is a step up in complexity of rules for us.We played the introduction game and it started real slow. Half of the blame is our learning curve. My heart sank as our daughters seemed really bored. I had the app running full screen on our lap top with the music playing. My wife was also not enthralled but was really being a great cheerleader. The pace of the game picks up and the game has a pretty steep learning curve so we adapted to the pattern of what to do and when to do it. I had read that you need to get to the objective and not go on a scavenger hunt. My wife loves treasure hunts so we explored everything. I just let it flow knowing we were probably doomed but we would go down with lots of cool stuff in our satchel.With the universe crashing down near the end, my wife was trying to keep our girls engaged. she wanted to see the end. The girls perked up a lot. The game took some unexpected turns. You could tell that the app was changing up and also trying to force us to the showdown. This morning, the girls wanted a bit of a replay on how it all went down and were talking about it. We had to take some pauses in the game (two totaling about 45 minutes), which worked flawlessly, but that first intro game still took us 4 hours (including paused time). Maybe we are challenged. Those are the facts, now here are some of my opinions.Ignore the carping about poor quality of the figures. They are not museum pieces, but they are fine and definitely get the idea across as to what you are dealing with. They are worthy of painting if you are a modeler. The app was great. It was almost like a real dungeon master (I used to play D&D some 35 years ago). I think that it was adapting to our play style, changing things for us, and guiding us to the grand finale. Even if it wasn't, isn't it great that it felt like a real person was monitoring our game and adapting the game to us instead of vice-versa? The game has a great mix of mystery, treasure hunt, puzzles, and battles. We all want to play that first scenario again and I predict that it will go by in about half the time. I give the game 7/10 so far, but that rating seemed to be rising fast for all of us as the game mechanics became more second nature. The set up phase had us all at 10/10, before it started to drag. I will plan to update this after a few more tries. The instruction booklets are great and I was able to answer most of about 20 questions within one minute. Some relatively detailed nuances required maybe two minutes to find. No unanswered questions so far.Regarding expansions, we started with Recurring Nightmares and Suppressed Memories figure and tile sets. The investigator figures were the biggest hit from them so far. We liked the 16 new possible investigators and two of us used them. Can't comment yet on whether the additional room tiles and monsters (a LOT of them came with the sets) are worth it.My wife adds that kids should get a pep talk at the beginning of the game that the first hour is not reflective of the overall game experience. The game required a solid hour of learning for us, even with having read the instructions first. It's not like Monopoly where you get in and learn and play your first game. This game appears that it will be on our playlist longer, but it requires a training period for us.

Mansions of Madness isn't just a game; it's an immersive journey into the heart of darkness. If you're a fan of Lovecraftian horror and enjoy spine-tingling suspense, this game is a must-have addition to your collection.What sets Mansions of Madness apart from other board games is its ability to transport players into a world of chilling mystery and intrigue. Set in the eerie universe of H.P. Lovecraft, each scenario plunges you into a haunted mansion or sinister locale, where ancient secrets and eldritch horrors lurk around every corner. As you explore the dimly lit corridors and uncover hidden clues, you'll feel a sense of unease and anticipation that keeps you on the edge of your seat.One of the game's most impressive features is its use of technology to enhance the gameplay experience. The companion app serves as your guide and storyteller, generating randomized events, controlling enemy movements, and providing atmospheric sound effects that ratchet up the tension to heart-pounding levels. Whether you're facing off against cultists, zombies, or unspeakable monsters, the app ensures that each game feels fresh and unpredictable.Mansions of Madness is also a game of strategy and deduction. As you and your fellow investigators work together to solve puzzles, decipher cryptic messages, and confront otherworldly threats, you'll need to use all your wits and cunning to survive. With multiple characters to choose from, each with their own unique abilities and strengths, there's no shortage of ways to approach each scenario, ensuring that every game is a thrilling and unpredictable adventure.In conclusion, Mansions of Madness is a must-have for any horror enthusiast or board game aficionado. Its immersive storytelling, innovative gameplay mechanics, and atmospheric presentation combine to create an unforgettable gaming experience that will haunt your dreams long after the game is over. So gather your courage, dim the lights, and prepare to enter a world of terror and madness like no other.

I've played before so I got my own copy because I enjoyed it so much! Game is worth five stars, however I dropped a star because the game box showed up damaged, inside the unscathed delivery packaging. Not a big deal as it's still playable, but it has a hole in both the lid and base box, so it was bit annoying when I opened the package.THAT BEING SAID: I love this game and can't wait to play again with friends and family. Might be too dark or macbre for certain ages, however I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for horror table top for 1-5 players. Yes, you can play it all alone! 😁 Well worth the cost (when it isnt damaged prior packaging 🙄) and a lot of fun to play with a group.