Making a game into a campaign is no easy feat, but Rock Manor Games did an excellent job compiling 3 standalone games/expansions into Doomed Run. Set out on adventure with your classic hero classes, pick some new characters, weapons and loot along the way and hope to survive long enough to see the end.
Was this game sent for review or self-purchased?: This game was kindly sent for review by Tabletop Tycoon.
In two sentences, what do you do in the game: One player stays behind tending to the campsite while three others go out on watch and try to keep all manner of beasts and villains out and away. As play progresses, you will travel to different locations, picking up new equipment, new quests, and new characters with which to play.
Have we played any other titles by this publisher?: Yes and no. This game is a culmination of 3 separate games, the original game Set a Watch, Swords of the Coin, The Outriders Expansion, and Forsaken Isles. So we have played all of these as part of Doomed Run as it is a culmination of these games combined into a campaign.
What was surprising about this title: The game is extremely difficult and every character feels unique. The game feels different with any character you play as and is surprisingly tactical. There are choices that you make that affect the entire campaign and it is very disheartening when you lose a quest. The game is also extremely difficult at times and more often than not, you will find yourself scrambling to survive.
How likely is this to return to the game table?: Unlikely due to the difficulty. Having played on Normal difficulty, the game can be brutal. There were times where rolls were so low that the entire team was killed in the first round. Our table tends to dislike games that depend a lot on luck, and while this does use luck as an element, it is too dependent on it at times and feels unfair.
Game length: 30-120 minutes. Setting up the first run will take you approximately 20-30 minutes. Mostly because you have to get different cards and items from different boxes. The main Doomed Run box organizes things very well but it is time consuming. The game can take anywhere from 30-120 minutes but there are times where you will lose within the first 15 ending the game, which means figuring out the consequences for the campaign.
Language Barrier Playability: Very difficult to impossible. The game is very dependent upon language and being unable to easily read and communicate in the same language will make this game impossible to enjoy.
Artwork: Excellent. There are various items, characters, and locations with unique artwork. It also becomes easy to pick up your characters ability cards based on the artwork. So it’s easy to quickly find your cards (of which there are a TON).
Quality: Excellent. The box is sturdy, and the inner boxes (i.e. the separate games themselves) are sturdy and magnetized for easy closure. They also double as maps for the standalone games. The dice are superb and are of various colors and sizes.
Strategy: Moderate to heavy. Depending on the difficulty the game can be a moderate challenge or a serious challenge. You must decide who will stay at camp and realize that they will be unable to do a whole lot this round, aside from healing you (if you’re lucky enough to roll exactly a 6 on one of your dice). You must then decide which order and which abilities, if any, you’ll use for that character. Hopefully you’ll survive the round without losing anyone. It’s a tough game and very unfair at times. You’re usually fighting a losing battle.
Instruction Manual: Good. It doesn’t do anything particularly out of the ordinary in terms of instructions. It tells you how to play the game without being confusing. With each expansion and all the way up to Doomed Run, the game plays mostly the same with a few added extras here and there.
Organization: Amazing. Doomed Run has a massive box that shadows the standalone boxes. It literally holds the standalone boxes within and had two large trays that hold the hundreds of cards for each game. It has dividers for each type of card and includes organizers for keeping progress throughout the campaign. It definitely makes setting up the game faster but it will still take quite a while to set up Doomed Run due to the generous amount of content.
Final thoughts: Set a Watch as a whole is worthy of attention and Doomed Run brings the entire collection together for a tough and brutal campaign. It can be very difficult at times, and whenever you win, you feel lucky and proud. The artwork is excellent, and you’ll find yourself fiddling with the dice as you await your turn. Be ready to lose a few times. It is tough to plan ahead, as every round is randomized. The characters you can play as are all distinct and have unique abilities and play with different dice, so each death will at least feel unique.
Sushiball Games 
1 Comment