Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin

I recently picked up Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin after hearing great things about it from other players. I'd been a fan of the original Thunderstone, but felt it could use some improvements. This new version definitely delivers!

Right off the bat, I noticed the streamlined and balanced setup. The new board, which encompasses both the village and dungeon, helps to ensure a more diverse card pool for players, preventing the game from feeling too random. The monster ranking system also adds a nice layer of customization, allowing you to adjust the difficulty level to suit your preferences.

Another welcome change is the "Prepare" option. It lets you salvage useful cards and put them on top of your deck, making it easier to craft a hand that works for you. The addition of familiars is also a fun new mechanic, adding a bit of extra strategy to the game.

Overall, Thunderstone Advance feels like a significant improvement over the original game, addressing many of the common criticisms. It still maintains the core gameplay that fans of the original enjoy, but with a more polished and balanced experience. If you're a fan of deck building games, or just looking for a great fantasy adventure, I highly recommend giving Thunderstone Advance a try.