Wonderland's War: Shards of Madness

Choo Choo Games, Dice Realm, Druid City Games · Board game · 2023
2–5 · best 5 45–125 min Weight 3.0/5
rating Ludopedia
8.1 rating BGG
How to Play Buy
rating Ludopedia
8.1 rating BGG
Our Verdict

Perfect for those who have mastered the base game and want more risk and strategic depth. The shard system adds that 'push your luck' element that keeps the table excited.

Highlights
  • New quests offer more paths to victory
  • Shard dynamics create funny player interactions
  • Starting battle bonus ramps up the tension
Keep in mind
  • Increases complexity of the War phase
  • Requires the base game to play
RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
If you thought the war in Wonderland was already chaotic, hold on tight: the Cheshire Cat has decided to stir the pot. In 'Shards of Madness', madness takes a new form through corrupted shards that promise powerful rewards, but as with everything in this world, they come with a price. This expansion dives deep into the theme of the absurd, introducing 35 new cards that shake up the base game's dynamics.

The heart of the expansion lies in the 24 new Wonderlandian cards. They focus heavily on the management of Shards during the War phase. Now, you can push your luck to secure brutal boosts or, if you're feeling generous (or spiteful), you can even 'gift' shards to your opponents. The fight for who earns the extra Madness chip at the next Tea Party now starts much earlier, turning the War phase into a strategic and unpredictable battlefield.

Additionally, the expansion expands scoring possibilities with two new types of quests. Leader Quests allow you to score in any region as long as your Leader is present, while Double Feat quests require the completion of two objectives, encouraging you to venture into more areas of the map. To top it all off, there's the Entombed Sword card. It doesn't just mark where the first battle takes place; it grants a heavy bonus to the winner of that initial clash, making the decision of where to send your supporters a crucial choice from the very first minute of the round. It's the perfect dose of chaos for those who want to add more layers of depth and risk to their Wonderland's War experience.
Expansion for
Rules manual
Rules manual — Wonderland's War: Shards of Madness English · PDF
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BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 REC
3 BEST
4 REC
5 BEST
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Game details

Families

Books: Alice in Wonderland Crowdfunding: Kickstarter Settings: Wonderland's War (Druid City Games)
Publisher Choo Choo Games, Dice Realm, Druid City Games, Galakta, Last Level, Lucky Duck Games, Mirakulus, Skybound Tabletop, TLAMA games
Designer Ben Eisner, Ian Moss, Tim Eisner
Artist Manny Trembley
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion. You need Wonderland's War to use these new components.
Does it make the game much more complex?
The complexity increases slightly due to the new shard and quest rules, but nothing a player familiar with the base game can't learn quickly.
What's inside the box?
A total of 35 cards (24 Wonderlandians and 10 Quests), plus a battle marker and 8 shard tokens.
Do these cards significantly change the strategy?
Yes! Shard management and Leader Quests open up new ways to score and interact with opponents.
How many players is it for?
It follows the base game's range, working well for 2 to 5 players.