Thunderstone

Thunderstone is a fantastic deck-building game that I'd definitely recommend to any fan of Dominion. It takes the core mechanics of Dominion and adds a captivating fantasy theme, making it feel more like a dungeon-crawling adventure. The variety of heroes, monsters, and village items means no two games are the same, making it a truly unique and replayable experience.

I find the game to be best with 3-4 players, but it can be enjoyed with 2 players or even solo. The luck factor in the game isn't overwhelming; while card draws certainly impact your choices, strategic deck building is key to ensuring you have the right cards when you need them.

One of the things I appreciate about Thunderstone is the emphasis on destroying cards to keep your deck manageable. Unlike Dominion, where you primarily discard cards, Thunderstone offers numerous ways to remove cards from play, ensuring a more streamlined gameplay experience.

The game also features an engaging experience point system, allowing you to upgrade your heroes to even more powerful versions. This adds a satisfying layer of progression to the gameplay.

Of course, no game is perfect. The card stock, while decent, is a bit flimsy, and some cards have started to show wear after only a few plays. Additionally, experienced players can dominate new players, though the rules and strategy are relatively easy to pick up, and the playing field tends to even out after a couple of games.

Overall, Thunderstone is a well-balanced, unique, and fun game that I highly recommend. It's a great option for fans of deck-building games and those who enjoy a bit of fantasy adventure in their gaming sessions.