In the Hall of the Mountain King — Prices

Burnt Island Games, Galakta, Gen-X Games (GenX) · Board game · 2019
8.0 Ludopedia 7.5 BGG 2–5 · best 4 90 min Weight 2.9/5
Buy · from US$ 41.74
8.0 rating Ludopedia
7.5 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Perfect for those who love Eurogames with resource management and a touch of Tetris. The cascade system is brilliant and satisfying!

Highlights
  • Innovative cascading production system
  • High-quality wooden components
  • Well-integrated polyomino puzzle
  • Very charismatic Troll theme
Keep in mind
  • Moderate language dependency
  • Learning curve for beginners
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready to get your hands dirty! In In the Hall of the Mountain King, you play as a Troll determined to rebuild your ancient and glorious underground kingdom. The goal is straightforward yet challenging: dig tunnels, recover riches, and, most importantly, return the statues of your ancestors to the heart of the mountain. But you aren't alone; other Trolls are also eyeing the crown, and the competition for space on the map is fierce.

The standout feature here is the 'cascading production' system. You start with a few Trolls, and each produces specific resources (such as gold, iron, marble, and runes). The magic happens when you hire new Trolls and position them in a pyramid shape. Activating the Troll at the top triggers a chain reaction that activates the Trolls beneath them, generating an avalanche of resources. The larger your pyramid grows, the more powerful your economy becomes, but be careful: timing is everything. Focus too much on hiring, and you might miss your building window; focus only on construction, and you'll run out of materials.

On the board, you'll use polyomino tiles to expand your tunnel network. Your goal is to connect your entrance to mineral deposits, workshops for transforming resources, and, of course, the fallen statues. To move these statues to the pedestals of honor at the mountain's core, you'll need carts and precise route planning. Victory is decided by Honor points, earned through the quality of your tunnels, the grandeur of the excavated halls, and the final position of the statues. The player who best balances hand management, territorial expansion, and cascading production will be crowned the Mountain King!

Expansions

Published additional content

2 items

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

7 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–5 players
2 REC
3 BEST
4 BEST
5 REC

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Components: Game Trayz Inside Components: Polyominoes Components: Wooden pieces & boards Creatures: Trolls Crowdfunding: Kickstarter Organizations: The Game Artisans of Canada Players: Games with expansions that add solo play Theme: Mining
Publisher Burnt Island Games, Galakta, Gen-X Games (GenX), IELLO, リゴレ (rigoler), Skellig Games
Designer Graeme Jahns, Jay Cormier
Artist Josh Cappel, Kwanchai Moriya

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

9,030owners
1,730wishlist
228want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
Is the game very complex?
It's considered an 'Expert' game. The cascading production rules require focus, but once you get the hang of it, the flow is very smooth.
Do I need a translation to play?
Yes, there is a moderate language dependency on cards and references, so a translation sheet is recommended.
What is the average play time?
A game lasts about 90 minutes, depending on player experience and the number of people at the table.
Does it work well with 2 players?
Yes, the game supports 2 to 5 players, maintaining competitiveness even in smaller games.
How is the component quality?
The game is highly praised for its components, including wooden pieces and internal organizing trays.

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