Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
A frantic cooperative adventure for those wanting to feel the weight of Tolkien's journey.
Highlights
- Epic and immersive adventure
- Great increasing tension
- Works as standalone
- Ideal for fantasy fans
Keep in mind
- Heavily dependent on dice luck
- Can be challenging for beginners
Rules manual not indexed yet
Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.
About the game
What you do in a play session
Get your heart ready, because the journey is just beginning! In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, you and your friends step into the shoes of Bilbo Baggins and his company of 13 dwarves on an epic quest. The goal? Traverse the perilous Mirkwood Forest and the bustling Lake-town to reach the Lonely Mountain and the treasure waiting there. But don't be fooled; the path is riddled with traps! You'll face giant spiders, cunning elves, dangerous orcs, and of course, the fearsome Smaug himself, a dragon who doesn't care for uninvited guests.
The game features two boards that ramp up the difficulty as the adventure progresses, ensuring the tension never drops. The beauty here is that you need to reach your destination not just alive, but well-prepared, as your final score will reveal if your Company is truly capable of facing evil or if they'll just become another horror story in Middle-earth.
If you've played the first title in the series, you'll love the new additions! This game introduces fresh elements like 'The Dragon's Path' and the 'Dwarven Barrel Escape,' adding extra layers of adrenaline and unexpected twists. It works perfectly as a standalone game, but if you want an even more wild and complete experience, you can combine it with 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.' It's the perfect choice for fans of cooperative adventures, where dice luck and hand management decide the fate of the entire group. Can you survive Smaug's fire?
The game features two boards that ramp up the difficulty as the adventure progresses, ensuring the tension never drops. The beauty here is that you need to reach your destination not just alive, but well-prepared, as your final score will reveal if your Company is truly capable of facing evil or if they'll just become another horror story in Middle-earth.
If you've played the first title in the series, you'll love the new additions! This game introduces fresh elements like 'The Dragon's Path' and the 'Dwarven Barrel Escape,' adding extra layers of adrenaline and unexpected twists. It works perfectly as a standalone game, but if you want an even more wild and complete experience, you can combine it with 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.' It's the perfect choice for fans of cooperative adventures, where dice luck and hand management decide the fate of the entire group. Can you survive Smaug's fire?
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
REC
2
REC
3
REC
4
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
Loading playlist...
Where to Buy
Prices monitored daily
Finding best prices...
Prices unavailable at this time.
Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
Alert enabled!
Join the BoardGamesBot deals group
Get the best board game deals every day — without message spam.
Join the WhatsApp groupGame details
Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Cryptozoic Entertainment
Designer
Reiner Knizia
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
664owners
96wishlist
15want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Can I play it solo?
Absolutely! The game has very fun solo mode mechanics.
Do I need the first game to play this?
No! It is a standalone game, but it also works as an expansion to the first one.
What is the average playtime?
Usually between 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the intensity of the adventure.
Is the game very difficult?
The weight is moderate, but tension increases as you progress through the boards.
Is it a game for children?
It's great for families, as long as the little ones are okay with the fantasy theme and dice luck.
Other Games You'll Like
Based on mechanics and theme