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rating
Ludopedia
5.5
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS
If you enjoy a cooperative fantasy adventure where hero customization and risk management are key, Delve & Despair might be your next game night! It's a Print & Play title that rewards teamwork and clever play.
Highlights
- Deep hero customization
- High cooperative tension
- Engaging dungeon exploration
- Good replayability with variable setup
Keep in mind
- High language dependency
- Luck can be frustrating
- Requires printing components
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About the game
What you do in a play session
In Delve & Despair, you and your crew embark on a cooperative adventure to brave sinister dungeons and, hopefully, put an end to the dreaded Dark Lord. The story kicks off in a tavern, where heroes of all stripes—from the Alchemist to the Warrior, Bard to Rogue—hear tales of dark ruins and the treasures (and dangers!) lurking within. The decision is unanimous: let's explore!
The game offers 12 unique heroes to choose from, each with a Special Talent and a talent pool you can customize from 30 options. This customization is key, as you'll need to assemble a sharp team to face the Rooms and Encounters that pop up. Each room presents its own challenges: Events that shake things up, Enemies to defeat, and Chests/Corpses to loot (or skip, if you're in a hurry!).
Get ready to manage your resources, because this journey isn't a walk in the park. You'll take physical damage and accumulate Stress (fatigue!), so teamwork and combining hero talents are essential for survival. Luck also plays a role, with critical hits and failures capable of changing the course of battle. Delve & Despair is an invitation for those who enjoy a cooperative adventure with a good dose of strategy, customization, and that delightful tension of 'can we actually pull this off?'
The game offers 12 unique heroes to choose from, each with a Special Talent and a talent pool you can customize from 30 options. This customization is key, as you'll need to assemble a sharp team to face the Rooms and Encounters that pop up. Each room presents its own challenges: Events that shake things up, Enemies to defeat, and Chests/Corpses to loot (or skip, if you're in a hurry!).
Get ready to manage your resources, because this journey isn't a walk in the park. You'll take physical damage and accumulate Stress (fatigue!), so teamwork and combining hero talents are essential for survival. Luck also plays a role, with critical hits and failures capable of changing the course of battle. Delve & Despair is an invitation for those who enjoy a cooperative adventure with a good dose of strategy, customization, and that delightful tension of 'can we actually pull this off?'
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
OK
2
OK
3
OK
4
OK
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
(Web published)
Designer
Rodrigo Santos
Artist
Rodrigo Santos
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
6owners
5wishlist
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players can participate in Delve & Despair?
The game is designed for 1 to 4 players, so you can play solo or gather your whole crew!
How long does a game session take?
Expect to dedicate between 60 and 90 minutes for each adventure. It's enough time for a good exploration without getting too lengthy.
Is the game difficult to learn?
It has a good amount of strategy and mechanics that require attention, like hand and resource management. It's not super complex, but it does require players to be engaged.
Do I need to print the game? Does it come with physical components?
Delve & Despair is a 'Print & Play' game, which means you'll need to print and assemble the components yourself. It does not come with a box and ready-made pieces.
Is the game heavily language-dependent?
Yes, the game has a considerable language dependency. Most of the cards and text need to be read to play correctly.
What is the main objective of the game?
The objective is to survive the dungeons, defeat enemies, and, in the grand finale, vanquish the Dark Lord who commands the place.
Is it possible to play solo?
Absolutely! The game supports a solo mode, allowing you to control one or more heroes to face the dungeon's challenges.
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