FLGS Owner. We played this at GenCon and loved it, bought a bunch to bring back to the shop, and they all sold within 2 weeks. There's more strategy than Tom is letting on, and the theme is at an 11. Definitely ordering more.
I wondered how the Night cage compares to Sub Terra. Did anyone play both? I own and love Sub Terra, you also build a dangerous world with tiles that create a cave system. You face dangers, horrors and try to find the exit before you collapse and before your torch runs low. I love the tension and the creepy atmosphere in Sub Terra.
I love Subterra too, I felt like this was a “lesser” version of it. All this talk of playing with dim lights thinking Subterra gives you glow-in-the dark tokens and dice. Also, I enjoy the asymmetric powers of the characters.
I'd agree with luck playing a major role in the basic game. But as soon as you get to the advanced game with the key keepers, there's a lot more planning and strategy required to succeed.
I agree with Tom on everything in the video. The game play is perfect for the theme, no adjustment needed. Ranked in the top 10 of my 100+ game collection. The main strategy of the game is managing which tiles fall off. NOT EASY. I have never had a run away win...almost always down to last 5 tiles or less. I agree with another reviewer, similar in many way to nightmare/atmosphere (which I play every Halloween) in theme and atmosphere. Great game!
Played this game last weekend at the Southern Fried Gaming Expo in Atlanta and loved it. Looking forward to picking up a copy and playing it by candlelight.
My husband and I just picked this up the other day. I've seen reviews and wanted it for a while but WOW!! It blew away our expectations!! Very original! Our new favorite game! 9/10 easily!!
The soundtrack really adds a lot too! Especially with the app! When creatures appear you have a sound effect button that can be pressed making creepy sounds. Freaking terrifying for a board game!!
@@kaiserbix seconded. That actually is The Cube in 2D. It's absolutely perfect gameplay representation with hidden traitors and timers and moveable tiles.. so good.
I backed it on kickstarter and when I first backed it I thought it sounded ok but it was nothing astounding. Then I actually got it and played it. It is much better than I thought it was going to be. One thing Tom didn't mention is Final Flickers. This is what happens at the end of the game when your stack of tiles runs out. On each players turn you have to discard an existing tile on the table. So your existing board starts to shrink. And if at any point any of your people are not on a gate and their last remaining pathway to the gate has to get discarded ... that's it. All of your guys can't make it to the exit and you all lose ... so it increases the sense of urgency ... a LOT. This game does have luck but it is more strategic than you would think. You definitely want to be close together so that if one person finds a key they can camp next to it and keep it lit and they won't have to stay there long for you to get there to grab it. You cannot carry more than one key so you can't grab a 2nd key to give to someone else. Note: You can't have a player rest ON the key tile because it is a cracked tile, which means on the next turn after someone enters the tile, it flips over and becomes a pit and thus is lost forever. And, you want to be close to each other so that if you get hit by a monster and go lights-out that you can quickly get your candle relit. But (there is always a but) ... you don't want to be TOO close to each other because then it increases the odds that a monster that spawns will potentially hit more than one player .... or appear in a place where it is impossible for all players to get out of the way to avoid being hit. This is a HARD game. Not unbeatable .. but just the base game is enough of a challenge that you will need to play quite a few times before you are likely to win. On a tangent ... I remember someone saying a while back that people supposedly dream in black and white. I'm not sure I believe that, but then I pretty much never remember my dreams ... so that's one explanation as to why this is black and white ... as you are supposed to be trapped in a nightmare essentially. The candle tokens ... I think they are different heights as a color-blind mechanism (so people who are color blind can pick out which token is theirs). All in all this is a good game and definitely one that will be staying in my collection (and will most certainly come out every Halloween).
I find that The Night Cage scratches the same itch as Forbidden Island but with a much creepier tone. About the black and white dreaming, I'm of the opinion that you dream in neither color nor black and white. Light and, by extension, color comes in through the eyes and the brain deciphers and translates what we see into what we know. In other words, what you see as a blue object in your dream isn't a blue object so much as it is the idea of an object that has your perception/understanding of what the color blue is.
@@unlimitedrabbit yup, my family played it and immediately thought it had shades of Forbidden Island and Forbidden desert mixed. It has the shrinking map that you’re trying to keep around from Island and the exploration of the unknown from Desert. Definitely different enough that I don’t mind having all 3, but definitely some overlap. Scratching a similar itch is a good way to put it.
Worth noting that you CAN give a key to an adjacent connected player if you have one and they don’t. You can’t be carrying two keys ever, but there are times when you may be adjacent to a key and already have one and you can hand your off before going to pick up the new one.
@@Morcarag Another shrinking play area game that I recently bought is Atlantis Rising. I have yet to figure out how to play it but it's very pretty to look at and has impressive components. I want to make a cake version of the game board where the sinking bits of island are pieces of cake sliced off and then eaten once removed.
I'm definitely a thematic person. I don't care one anyone says about them, but I love the very thematic Video Board Games Nightmare/Atmosfear which are coincidently also games you play in dim light and need to collect keys by way of dumb luck. lol So this one appeals to me.
Question for anyone who knows: During final flicker, what happens if you run into a monster? Since you can’t discard any more tiles from the stack, what happens? This is relative if you’re trying to get a key from a keeper during final flicker
I thought this was a new game. I saw some people referring to purchasing this game on Kickstarter. Then I see that it won an award back in 2019. I can't believe that I haven't heard of this game!!
It is a new game. It had some awards for most anticipated game on Kickstarter perhaps. A lot of UA-camrs did an early gameplay showing before it was released. The game was officially released this year.
So quick question, which is more dangerous to play? The Dirge or the newer Endbringer boss. I just got this in and waiting for Endbringer, but what is worse? I'm not looking for an easy way out. Edit, yes, I play video games in the Souls' vein, and so do my friends.
(Screw UA-cam’s Community Guidelines) Hello, It was cool when I first backed and received the game, unfortunately the game dwindled fast and I moved onto better games. The advance version does add some strategy and decreases the luck slightly as the key tile is replaced with a monster whom holds it and no longer does the key disappear unless engulfed by the Dirg. The instruction manual does speak about future content and I spoke with one of the designers on BGG about it, which he practically confirmed it. This game just really needs more content to flesh it out more. It would also be nice to have a monster to replace the gate tiles so they no longer disappear either, further decreasing the luck.
tried this a while back and just couldn't get into it due to the randomness... the theme didn't really do anything for me either. I'm glad others are liking the game, but it just wasn't for me.
I wanted to back ti but the campaign just didn't interest me. It certainly has that Sub Terra vibe. I own the collectors edition of Sub Terra and also in that game there is luck of the draw. But so what, its how you deal with what you draw is what makes the game challenging. I may have a look at this when in hits retail in Europe.
FLGS Owner. We played this at GenCon and loved it, bought a bunch to bring back to the shop, and they all sold within 2 weeks. There's more strategy than Tom is letting on, and the theme is at an 11. Definitely ordering more.
Played this for the first time a few months ago with all the lights off at a cabin trip in the middle of a huge thunderstorm!
2:45. I wasn't sure about this game. But the sound effects sold me. 3:47. 2:00. 5:15 6:17
Me too, the SFX are the best part.
I wondered how the Night cage compares to Sub Terra. Did anyone play both?
I own and love Sub Terra, you also build a dangerous world with tiles that create a cave system. You face dangers, horrors and try to find the exit before you collapse and before your torch runs low. I love the tension and the creepy atmosphere in Sub Terra.
I love Subterra too, I felt like this was a “lesser” version of it. All this talk of playing with dim lights thinking Subterra gives you glow-in-the dark tokens and dice. Also, I enjoy the asymmetric powers of the characters.
Thank you for sharing! I got Sub Terra because Zee Garcia is so enthousiastic about it. It was 28 in his last top 100.
Check out Unknown.
I love Sub Terra! I too am curious how this game compares to it.
What game is sub terra? I can‘t find it on bgg??
I'd agree with luck playing a major role in the basic game. But as soon as you get to the advanced game with the key keepers, there's a lot more planning and strategy required to succeed.
I agree with Tom on everything in the video. The game play is perfect for the theme, no adjustment needed. Ranked in the top 10 of my 100+ game collection. The main strategy of the game is managing which tiles fall off. NOT EASY. I have never had a run away win...almost always down to last 5 tiles or less. I agree with another reviewer, similar in many way to nightmare/atmosphere (which I play every Halloween) in theme and atmosphere. Great game!
I agree 100% with this review. Played the KS version. It would be great to play on a night the power goes out...
Well, now I'm pretty interested... I love when a theme really shines through.
Played this game last weekend at the Southern Fried Gaming Expo in Atlanta and loved it. Looking forward to picking up a copy and playing it by candlelight.
My husband and I just picked this up the other day. I've seen reviews and wanted it for a while but WOW!! It blew away our expectations!! Very original! Our new favorite game! 9/10 easily!!
The soundtrack really adds a lot too! Especially with the app! When creatures appear you have a sound effect button that can be pressed making creepy sounds. Freaking terrifying for a board game!!
I recently got and i liked it. Reading the rules had the same effect on me too.
Doesnt it give you some "the cube" vibes? Like the movie "the cube".
Not much, for that I got Room 25, it's basically the cube in 2d.
@@kaiserbix seconded. That actually is The Cube in 2D. It's absolutely perfect gameplay representation with hidden traitors and timers and moveable tiles.. so good.
I backed this on Kickstarter and I'm very happy with the gameplay and the fun to be had with its straightforward rules.
I backed it on kickstarter and when I first backed it I thought it sounded ok but it was nothing astounding. Then I actually got it and played it. It is much better than I thought it was going to be. One thing Tom didn't mention is Final Flickers. This is what happens at the end of the game when your stack of tiles runs out. On each players turn you have to discard an existing tile on the table. So your existing board starts to shrink. And if at any point any of your people are not on a gate and their last remaining pathway to the gate has to get discarded ... that's it. All of your guys can't make it to the exit and you all lose ... so it increases the sense of urgency ... a LOT. This game does have luck but it is more strategic than you would think. You definitely want to be close together so that if one person finds a key they can camp next to it and keep it lit and they won't have to stay there long for you to get there to grab it. You cannot carry more than one key so you can't grab a 2nd key to give to someone else. Note: You can't have a player rest ON the key tile because it is a cracked tile, which means on the next turn after someone enters the tile, it flips over and becomes a pit and thus is lost forever. And, you want to be close to each other so that if you get hit by a monster and go lights-out that you can quickly get your candle relit. But (there is always a but) ... you don't want to be TOO close to each other because then it increases the odds that a monster that spawns will potentially hit more than one player .... or appear in a place where it is impossible for all players to get out of the way to avoid being hit. This is a HARD game. Not unbeatable .. but just the base game is enough of a challenge that you will need to play quite a few times before you are likely to win. On a tangent ... I remember someone saying a while back that people supposedly dream in black and white. I'm not sure I believe that, but then I pretty much never remember my dreams ... so that's one explanation as to why this is black and white ... as you are supposed to be trapped in a nightmare essentially. The candle tokens ... I think they are different heights as a color-blind mechanism (so people who are color blind can pick out which token is theirs). All in all this is a good game and definitely one that will be staying in my collection (and will most certainly come out every Halloween).
I find that The Night Cage scratches the same itch as Forbidden Island but with a much creepier tone.
About the black and white dreaming, I'm of the opinion that you dream in neither color nor black and white. Light and, by extension, color comes in through the eyes and the brain deciphers and translates what we see into what we know. In other words, what you see as a blue object in your dream isn't a blue object so much as it is the idea of an object that has your perception/understanding of what the color blue is.
@@unlimitedrabbit yup, my family played it and immediately thought it had shades of Forbidden Island and Forbidden desert mixed. It has the shrinking map that you’re trying to keep around from Island and the exploration of the unknown from Desert. Definitely different enough that I don’t mind having all 3, but definitely some overlap. Scratching a similar itch is a good way to put it.
Worth noting that you CAN give a key to an adjacent connected player if you have one and they don’t. You can’t be carrying two keys ever, but there are times when you may be adjacent to a key and already have one and you can hand your off before going to pick up the new one.
@@Morcarag Another shrinking play area game that I recently bought is Atlantis Rising. I have yet to figure out how to play it but it's very pretty to look at and has impressive components. I want to make a cake version of the game board where the sinking bits of island are pieces of cake sliced off and then eaten once removed.
Why this over Sub Terra? Weird that Vasel didn't mention it. Very similar in theme and gameplay.
Its basically Dungeon Quest
Watched the review, bought it before the end of the final thoughts. This is totally my jam. 😁
I pre-ordered my retail copy and it still hasn't come in yet 😅 but im excited to try it even more now!
same here!
as others have said, i would be interested in a comparison between this and the sub terra games and expansions.
Check out Unknown.
The scariest game of the year. Sounds pretty awesome to me.
Sounds like if you played in a dim room with a black light it would be amazing
I'm definitely a thematic person. I don't care one anyone says about them, but I love the very thematic Video Board Games Nightmare/Atmosfear which are coincidently also games you play in dim light and need to collect keys by way of dumb luck. lol So this one appeals to me.
Question for anyone who knows: During final flicker, what happens if you run into a monster? Since you can’t discard any more tiles from the stack, what happens? This is relative if you’re trying to get a key from a keeper during final flicker
I wonder how many people miss read the title and thought the game was called "The Nick Cage."
I did at first glance.
One
This would've been a good review to hold off on uploading until tomorrow, to kick off the start of spooky season
I thought this was a new game.
I saw some people referring to purchasing this game on Kickstarter.
Then I see that it won an award back in 2019.
I can't believe that I haven't heard of this game!!
It is a new game. It had some awards for most anticipated game on Kickstarter perhaps. A lot of UA-camrs did an early gameplay showing before it was released. The game was officially released this year.
I see Tom is wearing his invisible hat today.
No hat? Did Tom loose a bet? I would have thought he has a hat just for this.
He lost it in the darkness. When he went back for it, it was gone...
*lose
So quick question, which is more dangerous to play? The Dirge or the newer Endbringer boss. I just got this in and waiting for Endbringer, but what is worse? I'm not looking for an easy way out.
Edit, yes, I play video games in the Souls' vein, and so do my friends.
Best intro ever
You have the timestamps wrong :)
Haha, before you even said it I was thinking, "I want to play this next Halloween." 😂
(Screw UA-cam’s Community Guidelines)
Hello,
It was cool when I first backed and received the game, unfortunately the game dwindled fast and I moved onto better games. The advance version does add some strategy and decreases the luck slightly as the key tile is replaced with a monster whom holds it and no longer does the key disappear unless engulfed by the Dirg. The instruction manual does speak about future content and I spoke with one of the designers on BGG about it, which he practically confirmed it. This game just really needs more content to flesh it out more. It would also be nice to have a monster to replace the gate tiles so they no longer disappear either, further decreasing the luck.
this game looks so cool
This game feels like it should have a soundtrack.
It actually does! It was made available to Kickstarter backers, but perhaps Smirk & Dagger would consider putting it on Spotify or something.
Reminds me of Sub Terra.
Does it feel fundamentally different than SubTerra?
tried this a while back and just couldn't get into it due to the randomness... the theme didn't really do anything for me either. I'm glad others are liking the game, but it just wasn't for me.
Just thought I’d point out a misprint in the Contents section (page 4) of the rule book: The game comes with 7 Keepers, not 8.
I can’t think of another game that go old so quickly for us. We played it three times and we’re like “ok. We’re done”. Waste of money.
Very cool
looks interesting
My first thought was Tom went Amish.
Reminds of another game... can anyone jog my memory ?
I wanted to back ti but the campaign just didn't interest me. It certainly has that Sub Terra vibe. I own the collectors edition of Sub Terra and also in that game there is luck of the draw. But so what, its how you deal with what you draw is what makes the game challenging. I may have a look at this when in hits retail in Europe.
You may spend 1 Nerd to block a Monsters Attack.
In summary... 6:18
coool
This game is a complete luck fest, save your money and time.
Meh. I’ll stick with the classics.