Another game I did play instead of writing those posts. High time to catch up!
This time a game of genre I haven’t played in a long time – deduction game
Cryptid
Components
First impression is a really good one. The box is solid and has a premium feeling, however unfortunately inside is not as good. It’s just a big hole with cardboard elevation on both ends to most likely hold the components a bit stacked, so they won’t banging on the box while moving the game, while also being to the 3/4 of the height to accommodate the board pieces and instruction.
When it comes to cards they are all standard size, unfortunately of mediocre thickness (2.2-2.4mm) and quality. Fortunately you don’t need after picking one, apart from looking up how to build the map and to remind players, which instructions should they use. Not need to sleeve them, since even if they get a bit damaged, there you probably wont see the same card in a while (and in my case probably never).
Wooden components for players are standard cubes and discs nothing to say bad or good about them, there also some triangles and columns to mark some key structures on the map. The board consist of 6 pieces that are one sided. Thick cardboard with beautiful simple graphics that make them feel a bit 3D. With amount of cards this game has I though it would be double sided but somehow they managed to squeeze them on this one.
Set-up
Quickest of the games I played lately. You just take 6 board pieces, take a card to see how you should align them and after that hand out the instruction and components to players and done. No more than 2-3 minutes to start.
Rules
The rules are simple, even though the rulebook is 10 pages long, half of it are example, graphics, hints etc. Basically it all comes down to players taking turns in guessing the mystical monster lair or asking for clues from another players while also giving one from themselves.
Gameplay
Box mention 30-50 minute game time for one session, however to tell the truth its just a mean in case of this game and it could even be 10 minutes. The time solely depends how long each player think about whether to ask for clues or guess the lair and on which tile to do so. This also mean that the game could take as long as needed to find the lair where all players hints match. Apparently there is always only one spot on the map though we haven’t really check it.
As mentioned in the rules section the gameplay overall is quite simple. Every player have his own hint that shows the monster location (or in case of advance variant also places where it isn’t), you always have to speak the truth (the hard part) and simply answer the question or ask it. Once you gather enough hints you can guess the lair location, if you are correct and all hints show this place as possible you win. Of course you can play it as a team, though it takes the best part of the game out in my opinion. Which you would ask? The only piece of negative interaction this game have – deception. You always have to speak the truth, but you can always try to lure fellow hunters in the wrong direction, making the trophy only yours. This add another layer of scheming, that make the game not only a simple riddle solver.
There aren’t any special rules for players linked to the color they play meaning there is no possible for some epic catch up mechanic. If you fail to discover other player hints you are left with a guessing game.
Game is designed for 3 to 5 players. I played it in 3 and 4 player configuration and in my opinion 4 was a more optimal version. Simply because why it doesn’t add to much complexity or down time to the game, the hints are a bit more scattered meaning it’s harder to guess them.
Score
- Overall 7/10 – Quick set up, quick to play, not much space needed on the table. Good and quick entry game in my opinion, that activates you brain for more challenging ones to come
- Coming back 8/10 -There is a huge amount of cards, so you probably won’t be facing the same riddle twice, which makes it easy to go back to play one more round
- Fun factor 6/10 – There is some fun in guessing and solving the hints, however there is no moment in this game for me when you actually feel good about what you achieved unless you win
Will it stay or go? – It’s a stay, though probably will be played as an entry game only from time to time
