I’m generally not a fan of apps in games, but this is EXACTLY what I want out of an app-assisted game. It feels like, for so many app games, you’re playing the actual game on the app and most of the physical components are just extra, but I love how this genuinely feels like a board game first and foremost and the app just adds variability and events.
I'd also say that it stops one of the issues with branching stories in games where players can deliberately game around which branch they trigger. If they don't know the exact points, or even if they exist, they can instead concentrate on playing their games in the moment without that 'meta' going on. Heck, there could maybe even be certain branches that are decided randomly too, and the players would never know the potential for alternate versions
Agreed. The game is on the boards, the app is there just to remind you of setup stuff and tell you when what's happening on the table should get shaken up a bit. And to provide some cool story context if you do want to read through it all, but a lot of it can be skipped. Nice that that is an option though if you don't mind the longer play time by reading through why stuff is being shaken up in the ways that it is. I just wish they'd release the source code for the app at some point, I know that might ruin it for some people because they can maybe see triggers for different stuff but. I just don't want this app to ever be lost to time and make the game unplayable because it is a very highly polished and cool game.
Agree with all these sentiments. I honestly love that we have a heavily themed euro game with strong narrative element. It scratches so many itches in one game and it’s all incorporated so well.
We have played five times in the last 10 days. I love the theme, and do not mind the long narrative. I do wish I could figure some of the Algorithm out though as we have yet to build a hospital despite maxing out hearts. I already look forward to new content once available.
Just played this Sunday and absolutely agree. It was amazingly fun. We had some of the rules wrong however, but it was still hella fun. I imagine it'll be even more fun now that we know the rules better.
One of the best ways to fill the vials is to use UV resin and some dye. Turns out really well. Do a test to make sure you get it right though so you don't ruin your components.
It's a wonderful game. I've only played it with 3 players, with a competitive, yet not mean feel. I've only seen 4 of the endings so far. The text in the app can be a bit much, but it's very immersive, making it worth the slog in most cases.
Hearing Tom makes me wonder how Zee would take to the game. He generally doesn't take to long games, but he is a fan of Fury Of Dracula which goes long, and he is fine with darker themes. Having listened to TC on popdcasts over the years, I'm glad his work is getting this kind of review!
Played this game for the first time this past weekend with a group of 4. Took us 10 hours to play through with all the text! Literally you can read Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" in less time than it took us to play. Granted there were also a few rules we didn't play correctly so it wasn't a 'pure' playthrough but geez do I ever love this game but because of its length, not sure how many other times it will ever hit our table.
I've given a go at all scenarios at this point and I really do love it. I also appreciate the amount of text despite the fact that in all of my games so far we have agreed at the start that I'll just shorten it as I read it for people. It isn't too hard to do that. It is really surprising how it consistently feels like way shorter than the three hours a game takes.
I rarely completely agree with one of Tom's reviews but he touched on every "issue" and positive that I have. I don't think I'll ever need another euro game.
Really great game! Dripping with theme, good variability, and excellent gameplay. The components and storage tray system are fantastic as well! They definitely cut down on game setup time. Yes, the Journal track markers are a bit tippy (as Tom mentioned) but they haven't been an issue for us so far and they fit perfectly with the overall setting/theme. I filled the chemical vials with different colors of art sand and it completes the look and works great. They look like they contain different types of powdered chemicals. The stoppers fit tightly so there's no leakage. Also, it isn't permanent or damaging since you can always just empty it out and rinse the vials and be back to the original game component. So glad I backed this one!
So looking forward to getting this played, patiently awaiting the Google app release. To those who complain about it being an app, this is precisely what I want from a board game with app assistance. Story telling elements and a branching story handled by the app so you never see anything you shouldn't or have any sense of the other choices. Can't wait to play
I really enjoy the game (backed it on Kickstarter) but after playing four times, I have yet to complete the masterwork; you really need the tiles that give you extra completed experiments. That said, some of the experiments are hilarious...like the Reverse Flame Thrower and The Mistake.
Hahaha. First time ever I write a comment to a you tube video. But I think you were hilarious in your final thoughts. Maybe I will buy a copy of the game if ever available in German. But I will definitely watch this video moreover. Maybe it will turn out to be a different game each time I watch it.😂Tom, thank you so much for this emotional video. It saved my day. Rainer
I play it 3 times, and love it, the only down for me its the huge amount of text, as long eveyone agrees to simplify the text fluff it speeds a little, great components to and the game its great and gets a diffferent feel than other worker placement games.
There are massive reports of the newly released Android app only being compatible with the very latest Android version, leaving many users with incompatible devices. I bought my tablet less than a year ago, and it won't run the app. Someone really made a bad decision somewhere in the development process.
That's true. Android 11 or higher is what's presently required, though Renegade has stated that they are investigating. In the meanwhile I've managed to sideload the app onto my Android 10 phone and tablet via the Amazon app store. But, yes, what with an initial incorrect submission to Google too, Renegade really messed up the Android release.
I really need to play this. I've had a hell of a time tabling it between waiting for the Android app (still not done but I got the app off Amazon) and wrangling my playgroup
There is the smash the leader thing but it just punishes the player who starts scoring too early. You need to build engine and not do things the game tells you to do until it hits the guy who never played it before, then you can start your scoring afterwards
I saw this at my local game store and was immediately intrigued by the cover art and name. Picked it up and turned it over to read the game description...and it was just the cover art on the bottom of the box as well. Hard to make a decision to buy a game with no description of what it is! Has anybody else run into this?
yes, same here. I saw on the publishers web site that it is not meant for retail. Game shops could buy it and I think that's where they depend on the game shop to explain it, or for true gamers like us to check it out online.
This would of been an instant back for me, but I have already amassed quite a shelf of games that last 2+ hours that never get played. Glad I learned from my mistakes, but wow, I thought this looked amazing and am glad it is! Anybody in Pittsburgh area who needs player let me know 😆
What i suspect in this game is that its meant to play in 3 sessions and thats how we've decided to do it. It's a short campaign of 3 games with stuff from one going into the other. I think the competitive nature makes us take this away from thinking of this as a traditional legacy coop game.
I've played it once with 3p and enjoyed it a lot. My biggest complaint other than the noted component complaint is that we were uncertain which things the app would read and which we had to read ourselves. As you said, when having to stop to read it slows things down. I think if all of the public text were read aloud it would be better and keep the atmosphere even more. Skipping the text would throw out too much of the theme.
The wife and I have gotten our games down to 2 hours, but we only read new branching paths. Our 3-4 player games are about 3-4 hours reading EVERYTHING.
I so feel a pang of regret that I didn't get this game on KS, but am hopeful that within a year or two, they'll make a full digital version on Steam so I can finally get this on my table and play it in small pockets of availability rather than needing to carve out a full 3 hours.
Played this now as a friend brought it to a meetup. With 2 it took just under 3 hours including me learning it. Without the story and theme, this game would be ok, but nothing amazing as its a very basic worker placement game at its core. I'm a huge fan of classic horror, so this game's theme was perfect for me. Without that theme and the setting, It'd play much faster, but be rather boring I fear.
This does sound pretty fun overall, but that game length issue kills my desire to grab it except for solo play assuming it has that, especially at the price point it was asking for. Legacies of Dragonholt showed how listening to people read to you for hours can get stale and the last thing I want to hear in a story telling game is “can we skip to the end?”
@@BobbyJuno it's been only a week and a half on the apple store. I played it via the beta test website, it was a fun time, but watching everyone else who played it using that beta test app, it follows the same plot line. I will say that writing.... i felt like i was in college again. Which i enjoy and it bring so much theme to the game. It kills me hearing tom just skips it, but i guess if he knew whats up you can skip the theme. I do love that the box does support sleeve cards. My only problem is the jigsaw board is already fraying, because how it moves in the box, when stored, can get dinged.
here's an excerpt from a recent update (when they announced the Amazon version of the app is live): The Google Play version was submitted at the same time as the others and we were expecting it to be approved in 24-48 hours. We have not received approval yet but we can see that it is flowing through their system. There are no issues that we know about, but it is just taking some time. We know that many of you are anxious for this version to drop and we will update you the moment we have further news.
@@amandapaulk2327 that doesn't really help with the sting that i got the game on 5/29, and its been almost 2 months and the app isnt ready yet. I really want the desktop app to be ready, but i can settle for the andriod one until it's ready. I feel really sorry for the people who dont have an apple or andriod phone/tablet to play with, because they will have to wait even longer.
@@TheErnieforss The company could have held on to the games and only send them out once the apps were ready, BUT that would delay people playing the game, and also incur a number of storage costs. It wasn't ideal to send games out before the app was ready but it was the least worse option for the company. Honestly, it doesn't really make a difference to the customers as they'd have the game on their shelves either way.
The time length is a big deal. with 3 of us who are definitely good with larger meatier games, it took us 6 hours to learn. Maybe an hour an a half can be shaved off for later plays... but the text in the app and all the decision space is a huge chunk of it. I wouldn't not read the stuff in the app, its a huge part of the theme. But still i am looking forward to playing again with the same guys in a few more months.
Not to be confused with My Father's Work, a game about someone having an existential crisis about whether or not they live up to their parent's expectations. 😂
I think The Everrain broke me when it comes down to story-heavy eurogames. There's something about all the narrative and strategic worker placement and/or action selection games that doesn't gel for me. The length, sure, but also the disjointed 'relax and read a story' vs 'burn your brain and strategize' back and forth that does not synergize well. But hey, maybe My Father's Work is different...
Ever rain is a much much rougher and unfinished experience. I sold mine on pretty swiftly. This is great but does suffer at the end if you finish your masterwork as you’ve not got much left to do
This game is not a brain burn. Its actually a very simply worker placement, just enough to be a nice competitive experience, lifted by the start events. Its a good balance.
Well the long awaited for app is out (?) . Is it really ? Not the android app is a no show app. I wish Tom had review how a game is out and does not work for all that pasd for the game. Should not have shipped as a half game.
That's odd, I just downloaded it on my android phone today. Also keep in mind, if Renegade had decided to delay a completed physical game, they'd have a lot of extra storage costs.
It's available from the Renegade web store, and some retailers that backed the KS will have it. We'll also have it at conventions we attend (like GenCon 2022).
@@CaptLoquaLacon Huh. Maybe not. I thought when I backed My Father's Work last year that I read that, but I don't see anything now when searching. Ignore me.
I was really disappointed that this game didn't have a solo mode, 'cause my group goes from game to game way too quickly to justify paying as much as this costs. With the app integration, it really seems like a an AI opponent shouldn't have been hard to include. Oh well! Maybe if they ever release a solo expansion or a second edition that includes one, or something.
Found this at my FLGS and returned it without opening. Was disappointed with the occult track. I get it matches the theme etc I just can’t bring myself to bringing that type of thing (even in a board game that is in name only) into the house. Wife wouldn’t allow it. @thedicetower (Tom) do you feel like the occult track is secondary and the game could be played without it or is it a must? Thanks!
@@Michaelrsted Ah, so not an ‘occult track’, but just the occult knowledge. Well, if the excistence of the word ‘occult’ in the game is too much, then definitely don’t look at all the other stuff in the game or the stories in the app. It is about mad scientist experiments after all. I think Jacob made the right choice
The occult track is not a must use. But very useful. But you’ll most certainly get occult cubes when completing experiments. Hard not too. Is it the naming of it or the the experiments etc? You could just call it something else… like wierd knowledge/experiments?!
@@Michaelrsted Yeah, but You woulf also have to ignore/reword a lot of stuff in the app. And if You are censoring keyword, cards, components, story and setting, wouldnt it be better and more productive to just play something else, more fitting, instead?
hahahah "the game was 3hoursa but it was an engaged 3hours" My first game was 7 hours but it was an engaged 7 hours, and i wnet out an bought it first thing next morning. Loved my first play but yeah a LONG game
Gezzz relax. It’s coming. Only been out on iOS for a week and a half. We’ve been waiting for more than a year for the game. A week or two more Should be bearable.
There is also negative luck, you can get cards that are impossible to fullfill and get malajustment, while others get easy ones that bring them a few points. I still like the game a lot and will play again, but don’t go in expecting the best scientist to win, you are all mad after all.
@@SimpleRoad No, you can't, but that's not the same as saying "just play an app". You can't play it without the deck of cards, and it's not a card game.
No app presents the game state in the way that is so easy for a player to navigate. Think about all the information that you can quickly access on the table, between all the player boards, the main board, the cards, the miniatures - you'd be endlessly cycling tabs and menus to get to the bit you want instead of just being able to cast a quick glance. No app provides the same kind of camaraderie as being around the same table either.
For me, the game play was mediocre at best. The story and events aren’t worth the time investment for our game group. This was just “ok” unfortunately.
Sorry but if I want to play board games then I don't want to use a smartphone/pad and if I want to play an app then I don't want to play a board game. But of course that's just my opinion.
Fair enough, at least you said it's just your opinion, unlike a lot of people who just say "APP BAD 0/10". I totally get it not being for everyone. I will say, this game feels much more like a board game first, with an app on the side. You really only use it between rounds and to trigger events. And I think the app really improves this game. Without the branching storylines and events from the app, it would be a pretty standard worker placement with a cool theme.
@@angrysalad I don't like the board, most of the artwork, I don't care for the graphic design. I don't like the storage. I don't like the way the map book lays on the board, tho I couldn't think of a better way to do that. I like the figures ok, but everything else leases me cold.