I’ve been a fan of the big red guy and the comics of Mike Mignola for a long time, so when I heard about a game based in his world, my interest peaked. Then I watched a video review and I knew I wanted it.
Hellboy the board game, by Mantic Games, is a dungeon crawl with some clever mechanics that make it stand out.
There are so many cool things about this game, but let’s start with the components. The miniatures are extremely detailed, you can see the scowl on Hellboy’s face, the BPRD logo on Johannes tac vest, just a top-notch job. And so many companies could learn from them about components storage. Customized trays that hold everything and fit in the box just as well as brand new. Excellent job Mantic.
Mechanics-wise, it takes some of the standard ways of dungeon crawl games and adds a unique spin on it. Players have 3 action cubes they use to take basic actions (move, fight, investigate interact) that cost 1 cube or special actions like Hellboy`s big right hook that costs 2. Most actions require passing a skill test using dice. There are 4 sets to use; yellow, orange, red and black. Yellow is the worst, and black the best. Each test uses a different set. However, players can spend action cubes to upgrade dice, like yellow to orange. Black is only used if upgraded from red. This allows players to mitigate the random element of dice rolls.
In Hellboy, players take on the role of one of the agents of the BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense) a secret agency whose mission is best said by the leader, Professor Broon “There are things that go bump in the night, make no mistake about that, We are the ones who bump back”
Each game consists of solving one of the 6 case files included in the game. There is a tutorial mission that lets you start playing right away. In fact, the game suggests going through the tutorial before reading the rulebook. I love this idea; gets you into the game right out of the box.
Each agent has a specific set of starting cards and abilities so it is very asymmetric. Players will find each agent brings skills to the table that are really beneficial.
The game is a run against time, as agents investigate and fight monsters while each turn the doom keeps rising until the final fight with the boss monster.
To play, select your agent, take their starting cards and action cubes. Hellboy, for example, starts with his pistol, and a skill called deep pockets.
Take the HQ board and place the investigation and doom track counters. Take the agent priority tokens and place them on the damage track, this is the order of who takes damage first.
Open the case file and read the starting card only; which will give the board set up, monsters used, tokens for the actions to take when a threshold is reached and where to place influence tokens on the investigation track.
Follow the instructions on the case file cards, it will tell you exactly what cards to place in play and what minions to use and what order they are in.
Next, create the deck of doom and the encounter deck based on the case file. Place the Agents in the starting area, and you are ready to begin. The game is played in several phases; Enemy phase (where enemies activate and take actions), Agent phase (Agents spend action cubes to take actions) Rest phase (optional, but can help agents heal or gain insight. However each rest action moves the doom track) Doom phase (Players reveal the top card of the deck of doom and resolve it) and finally the Recover phase (Agents refresh their action cubes and other special case-specific actions are resolved)
The game continues until either the doom threshold is met or specific events trigger one of the active Case file cards. Once this occurs, the game moves to the boss confrontation. Here the Agents fight the boss and his minions until either side loses.
For its unique mechanics, quality components and theme, this a really good game. Even if the IP was different, the way it plays makes it a very great gaming experience.
Here is the review I saw that piqued my interest in Hellboy the Board Game. Hope you enjoy it!
Written By Ed Carter
