# The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2024 - **BGG Rating**: 7.9 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 40-60 min - **Weight**: 2.50 / 5 - **Designers**: Chris McMahon, Christopher Ryan Chan, Rosswell Saunders - **Artists**: Christopher Ryan Chan - **Publishers**: Smirk & Dagger Games - **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Horror - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Finale Ending, Square Grid, Tile Placement ## Verdict Perfect for those who found the base game too easy and crave more tension and real danger. The new monster shifts the exploration dynamic.Drastically boosts the horror atmosphereDynamic and destructive new threatForces strategic group cooperationAdds depth to the map explorationRequires the base game to playHigh language dependencyRECOMMENDED ## Description You know that eerie feeling of déjà vu? Now imagine that happening as you wake up in total darkness, with nothing but a candle and the unsettling realization that something is different. The ground feels unstable, tunnels are collapsing, and worst of all, there are screams echoing through the void. Welcome to Shrieking Hollow, the expansion that turns The Night Cage experience into a truly claustrophobic nightmare. This expansion introduces new spaces to explore and, more importantly, a terrifying new threat. The 'Hollow' is connected to the prisoners via pits, and that is where 'The Other' lies in wait. The problem is that this entity doesn't just stay put; The Other rises from the Hollow and begins to devastate the maze, destroying any part of the environment it encounters. If you and your group are brave enough, you can leap into the pits to confront the creature on its own turf. The dim light of your candles can temporarily halt the monster's advance, but don't be fooled: this truce is fleeting. Staying too close to The Other is an invitation for an attack, as the creature loathes the flickering light you carry and will lunge to extinguish it. If you already enjoy the tension of the base game but feel it needs an extra dose of panic and urgency, Shrieking Hollow is the perfect addition. It adds layers of danger that force cooperation and make every single move far more stressful. Get your candles ready, coordinate your steps, and pray the light doesn't go out before you find the exit, because now the maze doesn't just want to trap you — it wants to devour you. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow, you awaken in a dark, unstable maze with only a candle. The expansion introduces The Hollow, a new board where The Other—a terrifying monster—awaits. As Prisoners, your goal is to escape the maze by finding Keys and unlocking Gates while avoiding threats. The game ends when all Prisoners escape or are lost to darkness. Victory requires at least one Prisoner to exit through a Gate. Preparation (Setup) Place the Hollow Board next to the Main Board. Stack the 3 sections of The Other in the starting space on the Hollow Board. Set the Expansion Discard Board near the base game’s discard board. Shuffle the base game passages with the 13 Cracked Passage tiles, reserve 10 tiles, then add Wax Eaters based on player count. Split into 4 piles. Distribute 1 Watched Key, 1 Gate, and 1 Shriek on each pile. Randomly add remaining Shrieks/Watched Keys. Shuffle piles individually and stack left to right, placing the reserved 10 tiles on top. Give players Player Aids and complete base game setup (starting tiles, candles, etc.). Game Flow Play follows the base game’s turn structure with these changes: Pits now send Prisoners to the Hollow instead of relocating them on the Main Board. The Other advances up the Hollow when Pits form on the Main Board (unless a lit Prisoner is in the Hollow). After 3 advances, it attacks the Main Board. Shrieks trigger The Other’s movement when the third is drawn. Prisoners in the Hollow illuminate tiles like the Main Board but must leave via climbing, falling into Pits, or touching Watched Keys. Actions and How to Play In the Hollow Landing: Prisoners fall to the lowest unoccupied row, draw a tile, and illuminate connected spaces. Leaving: Move past the top row, fall into a Pit, or step on a Watched Key (ejecting all Prisoners). The Other Advances 2 spaces per Pit on the Main Board (unless blocked by lit Prisoners in the Hollow). On the Main Board, it smothers tiles/Prisoners in its path, sending them to the Hollow with a 3-tile penalty. Shrieks When the third Shriek is drawn, discard all Shrieks and advance The Other (even if Prisoners are lit). End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: Victory: At least one Prisoner exits through a Gate. Defeat: All Prisoners are Lights Out (no candles lit) or trapped in the Hollow. No points are scored—it’s a team win or loss. Tips to Win Delay The Other: Have a Prisoner leap into the Hollow early to block its advance. Watched Keys: Use them to eject all Prisoners from the Hollow at once. Shriek Management: Avoid drawing the third Shriek when The Other is near the Main Board. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes! This is an expansion, so you must own The Night Cage to use this content. ### Is it hard to learn? If you already know the base game, it's quite simple. It adds new rules regarding the Hollow and the creature, but the core logic remains the same. ### How many players can join? From 1 to 5 players, maintaining the flexibility of the original game. ### Does it take a long time to play? Games usually last between 40 to 60 minutes, keeping a fast and tense pace. ### Is language a barrier? Yes, there is significant text. If you aren't fluent in the version's language, you'll need a translation. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 260,15 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0D851D4TZ?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/the-night-cage-shrieking-hollow ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 30.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6560005&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/72164/the-night-cage-shrieking-hollow?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com