Mansions of Madness

dscn0508 968full-mansions-of-madness-screenshot

Horrific monsters and spectral presences lurk in manors, crypts, schools, monasteries, and derelict buildings near Arkham, Massachusetts. Some spin dark conspiracies while others wait for hapless victims to devour or drive insane. It’s up to a handful of brave investigators to explore these cursed places and uncover the truth about the living nightmares within.

Mansions of Madness is a macabre game of horror, insanity, and mystery for two to five players. Each game takes place within a pre-designed story that provides players with a unique map and several combinations of plot threads. These threads affect the monsters that investigators may encounter, the clues they need to find, and which climactic story ending they will ultimately experience. One player takes on the role of the keeper, controlling the monsters and other malicious powers within the story. The other players take on the roles of investigators, searching for answers while struggling to survive with their minds intact.

Do you dare enter the Mansions of Madness?

# of Players: 2 – 5

Playing Time: 120 minutes

Difficulty to learn: Moderate

Library Catalog Record: http://library.lib.asu.edu/record=b6350006~S2

Hoity Toity

pic1937602_md

What do bored English noblemen do with their free time? Well, according to this Spiel des Jahres (1990) winner by Klaus Teuber, they like collecting old junk and then showing it off. Players buy or steal various pieces of junk in the form of cards, trying to form the largest and oldest collection. Built on a ‘rock-paper-scissors’ mechanism, this game gives all players a couple of choices each turn. The trick is in guessing what your opponents are likely to do, and planning your choice accordingly — only after everyone’s decision is revealed do you know for certain whether you made the right one. If you enjoy bluffing, strategy, or just being a snooty nobleman, this game is for you!

# of Players: 2 – 6

Playing Time: 45 minutes

Difficulty to learn: Easy

Library Catalog Record: http://library.lib.asu.edu/record=b6350007~S2