I was not home all weekend to write review number two so here it is. Luckily during my time away I was able to play this week's game several times with my friends.
The game? Betrayal at House on the Hill.
Yay, board games! This bit of horror is brought to us by Wizards of the Coast and Avalon Hill.
Betrayal play anywhere from three to six people, with five or six considered the best numbers. It is essentially divided into two phases. In the first the players create the board by exploring the house, placing down empty tiles as they enter unexplored rooms. As the rooms are explored, events occur and items and omens are discovered. Eventually an explorer will find an omen that causes the haunt to be revealed, leading into phase two.
When the haunt starts, the explorers will consult the scenario books. Generally, one player will be assigned the role of traitor and will be working against the others. Note that this does not necessarily mean a slugfest. Frequently, though not always, it will be in the heroes' best interest to avoid confrontation as the traitor will have some significant advantage over them and his death does not necessarily mean victory. Everyone's against him, it's only fair.
The best thing about the game is the way it captures the dramatic tension of the horror genre. As the house is explored, a sense of foreboding sinks in. Most of the events are genuinely creepy and frequently threaten stat loss, causing the player to feel anxious every time they enter a room. Revealing an omen is nerve wracking, as even though most offer some nice stat bonuses each one brings you closer to the haunt. Finally, the scenarios are masterfully written and hit on all the best horror tropes. I would love to elaborate here, but in the interest of avoiding spoilers I shall refrain.
My one complaint about the game has to do with rules clarity. There are a few things, particularly special room tiles, that have special rulings that are unintuitive as written. For example, the speed roll to save yourself from falling in the Collapsed Room only applies to the first to enter. This differs from most other rooms that require ability rolls and is not made apparent on the tile.
Overall, Betrayal at House on the Hill is a fantastic game. My friends seem to have taken quite a liking to it, including several who are not avid gamers. It is a testament to the game's quality that nearly everyone I have played with has had positive things to say about it.
Hopefully you will see me here on Sunday. I already have a plan for it so hopefully this week will go better.
Until next time, GG.
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