7.6
rating
Ludopedia
6.9
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS
If you dig the vibe of building your deck while exploring dungeons and fighting monsters, Thunderstone is a solid pick! It's a deckbuilder with an adventure twist that will keep you hooked.
Highlights
- Thematic deck building
- Dungeon crawling adventure
- Hero progression
- Tactical monster combat
Keep in mind
- Language dependency
- Can feel repetitive
- Initial rules can be tricky
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Prepare to delve into the dungeons of Grimhold in Thunderstone, a deck-building game that puts you in the shoes of brave heroes fighting against the dark forces of the Doom Knights. They seek the legendary Thunderstones to spread corruption, but the folks of Barrowsdale have gathered valiant souls to thwart this evil prophecy. Each player builds their own deck, starting with basic cards and adding new ones throughout the adventure. Think about recruiting mages, warriors, rogues, or archers, and equipping them with weapons, supplies, and light to venture deeper and deeper into the dungeons. The challenge gets serious with a dungeon deck full of monsters, each with their weaknesses and resistances to certain hero types. The twist is that instead of buying victory points, you use your deck to defeat these monsters. Upon winning, you not only gain victory points but also experience to power up your heroes, transforming them into even more potent versions. The game ends when the first Thunderstone is found and claimed, and whoever has the most victory points in their deck is crowned the champion of this epic journey. It's a race against time and your opponents to become the greatest hero in the realm!
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
REC
2
REC
3
BEST
4
REC
5
OK
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Alderac Entertainment Group, Arclight Games, Edge Entertainment, Hobby World, Pegasus Spiele, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Stratelibri, Wargames Club Publishing
Designer
Mike Elliott
Artist
Jason Engle
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Who is Thunderstone for?
It's ideal for those who enjoy card games with deck-building mechanics and like fantasy, adventure, and dungeon themes. If you've played Dominion and liked it, you'll feel right at home.
How many players can join?
The game is for 1 to 5 players, making it quite versatile, whether you want to play solo or with a larger group.
Is the game very complicated to learn?
The complexity is moderate. The main deck-building mechanic is familiar to those who have played other games of this type, but the interaction with the dungeon and monsters adds extra layers.
How long does a game session last?
Generally, a game session takes about 60 minutes to complete, which is a good timeframe for a game with this depth.
Do I need anything extra to play?
Yes, the game has language dependency. It's recommended to have translated cards or a reference sheet to facilitate gameplay.
What's the difference between Thunderstone and Dominion?
Both are deckbuilders, but Thunderstone focuses more on exploring dungeons and defeating monsters to gain points, while Dominion is more about directly buying victory point cards.
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