Betrayal at Baldur's Gate

Betrayal at Baldur's Gate

2017
Thematic
3.95 out of 5
163+ people loved this game
Mechanics
Role Playing/Storytelling
Complexity
Medium
Duration
60 minutes
Number of players
3 - 6 players
Minimum age
12+ years

Betrayal at Baldur's Gate review

Betrayal at Baldur's Gate is a great addition to the Betrayal series, bringing a familiar gameplay experience to a fantasy setting. As a fan of the original Betrayal at House on the Hill, I was excited to try this game and see how it differed. The D&D theme feels very natural and the game's overall quality is definitely a step up from the original. The tiles and components feel more durable and the character abilities add a nice layer of depth.

The game's mechanics are largely the same as the original, with players exploring a map and uncovering events that lead to a betrayal scenario. The traitor mechanic still provides a lot of fun and drama, and the 50 scenarios offer plenty of replayability. However, I found the scenarios themselves to be somewhat less engaging than those in the original, lacking the same level of creative storytelling and thematic depth. The events in the game also tend to be negative, which can make the exploration phase a bit less exciting.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Betrayal at Baldur's Gate is a solid entry in the Betrayal series that will appeal to fans of both Betrayal at House on the Hill and Dungeons & Dragons. The improved quality of the components and the inclusion of character abilities makes it a worthwhile purchase for any board game enthusiast. Just be sure to manage your expectations regarding the scenarios and the game's overall thematic depth.