I honestly don't understand how you don't have at least 100K subscribers by now. You're my favorite board game channel on UA-cam by far. One of the few channels of any kind where I actually enjoy everything from the intro to the outro.
Totally agree - always to the point, insightful and worth the time. Your content always stands out and is interesting to hear. Good luck for the channel if you’re looking to grow it
Love the straightforward approach to the review. I do agree with most of the pros and cons. I know it's daunting to bring it to the table, but it is by far the most rewarding time spend learning rules you will ever have. It is one of the best solo experiences have had, but I have played it 2, 3, and 4 players, and it is a blast any number of players (assuming you have the time for it).
First time stumbling across this channel. You can an immediate subscribe from me. It's like Guy Ritchie decided to produce and direct a board game review video - I'm loving the energy, the wit, and the snark - very entertaining and informative. Bravo.
Always love your review style, very unique tone compared to other board game reviews out there. Great review of Mage Knight, definitely one of my favourite solo games but I did have to dedicate a whole day to going through the rules to properly learn it haha Looking forward to more reviews!
The best thing about this channel is the combination of board game reviews along with the underlying feeling that I am going to get beat up. It's awesome!
I've played a 5 player game which went all 6 rounds (3 days and nights). We played over the course of 2 Saturdays, taking pictures and videos of our "save state" in between. It was truly epic! My guess is about 10 hours in total.
I play MK every few months, and have done so for the past 11 years. What stands out for me is that at least 95% of the playtime you're actually doing the FUN part - experimenting with your cards to solve seemingly impossible situations. The rulebook is clear and unambiguous but nobody seems to read it in the order that the rulebook recommends. There is nothing in the game that doesn't need to be there (it's elegant), yet it is still interesting. It takes me as little as 2 hrs to play a full 6-round solo game if I have zero AP and just 'feel' my way through the game - Four rounds in the 1st hour, two rounds in the 2nd hour, after all there are only 16+ cards to use in just 6 rounds.. but anyway i've never understood the complaints about time, you've got something better to do?? haha
Always surprised by the number of people who say they tried it and found it inaccessible. I do wonder if they followed the walkthrough that comes in the box as it does a great job of taking you through all the key elements step by step.
I tried to play this game... but it felt like I was going to university! I was like 45 minutes in, picking up the rule book, setting it down and I was like... forget this shit. I'll go play World of Warcraft! Although, watching your review, I may pull it out again!
Mage Knight is the kind of solo board gaming. For sure. Everyone these days is ranting and raving about Earthborne Rangers. I'd love to hear your opinion on it.
Mage Knight always reminded me of tabletop miniature games, which makes sense given its roots. Lots of depth but loads upon loads of rules and exceptions to those rules.
Mage Knight just pulls you back in. You keep thinking about your choices and what rules you might have missed... And I love that it's a table hog. It's a beautiful game to look at. Glad it's one of your favorites!
So glad you reviewed this one again, I figured it's gotta be pretty good for you to bother! Watched a couple of playthrough's by Ricky Royal & pulled the trigger on it. Just played the solo scenario yesterday & it blew me away how good it is! Can see why solo's recommended though, I'd hate to have to rush my turn - puzzling over how best to use the cards & pull an amazing turn out your arse is where all the enjoyment is.
@@BoardGameBollocks I can also recommend One Stop Coop to anyone reading this comment section. His camera work is great, so it was super-easy for me to follow along every move he made.
I always ove your reviews. And couldn't agree more about Mage Knight. My #1 of all-time. I wish there was a lower barrier to entry so even more people could experience how special a game this is.
The thing about the game is the dense barrier one has to go through to learn it. There's a huge investment in powering through that initial challenge but afterwards, underneath it is a really rewarding experience. The combat system is just hands down worthwhile and I can defeat a scenario and repeat it many times as much as I have time in the world. The text guide for each map location though is a pain to memorize. At times I still have to look over them whenever they are revealed, but that pales in comparison to the atrocious rulebook 😂😂😂. Can't defend that! Lmao. Still, this game is my #1 and I won't openly dare anyone among my frienda to play and that's ok, which is why MK shines at being a solo board game.
The rulebook isn’t the best ( to say the least) which doesn’t help tabling the game if you’ve not played it for a while. Battles are a bit complex, cities more so. 2 player is ok, although the analysis paralysis that arises can be off putting for that. Great game though, thanks for the review
Yeah, Mage Knight is my no. one, but Voidfall is getting closer to the no. one spot (solo mode). Have you played it, will you do a review soon? Great channel, or what ever! :)
I never played this game, but the way you talk about it makes me think that I need to buy it, or at lest to play it. Let's say that 4 persons decided to play the game until the end. Since it takes a long time to play the game, it will stay on the table to continue in the next day (they are really committed to finish). I have 2 questions: What would be the expected time to complete a 4 player game? Is there any problem in postponing the end of the game to another day? I mean, are there a lot of things to remember like actions, pending effects, whatever, that makes very difficult to continue the game in the next day?
Hard to say but a solo game can take 4-5 hours depending on how much you think about what your going to do. Multiply that by 4 and maybe you’ll have your answer.
Funny you say one of the best games of all time but never completed a 2 player game of it 😂. But I do understand completely how amazing this game is and how much it was ahead of it’s time.
what me and my group didn't like... it sounded like a "hey we go on adventures recruit new stuff for our army and then will siege the final city" like Might and Magic. BUT... it's basically a race to the finish and you rarely have enough time to explore the map
Thanks very much for the review. Really glad you still like it too! It’s such an absorbing effort to get to a city in good enough shape to take it on. Always seems like you are not going to quite make it and then you see a possibility in the cards that gives you a ‘this just might work’ feeling: I just might make it!! This can happen several times before you get to the city/across the terrain. So it is very satisfying to make all that pay off if you complete the mission/defeat the city. For those that feel the end of the game doesn’t quite do it 🎉 for you, that might be the post climax melancholy kicking in 😅
I spent a wedge on the ultimate edition a couple of years ago and it’s still sitting on top of the kallax, unplayed and looking intimidating. I don’t think my brain can cope with learning it - it’s a pity I didn’t realise that sooner. Looks so good though
I think you can learn it. Read the rules and give it a try. Sure, you’ll make some mistakes and need to check rules, but you’ll get it. Also, there are some great How to Play videos available.
Great review! Played it on tabletop simulator. Enjoyed the experience despite the rules trying to get me to give up at every turn. I had to have a UA-cam how to play sitting on the second screen throughout. I can see analysis paralysis being a massive hurdle for two players, there are so many ways to put together combos with your mana and cards! I enjoyed it, but don’t think I’ll play again. I prefer computer for solo and will leave board gaming as a social experience.
Never played this and I'm not ashamed to say I love solo gaming. Still got 1st Ed T&T and got lost in Fighting fantasy. Chainsaw Warrior, anyone? I know Fantasy Flight games can be a bit expansive but have you played/reviewed Mansions of Madness 1st or 2nd Ed?
I've played this game at a friend's place with at least 4 players on two occasions and I don't think higher player count adds anything to the game since everyone's just doing their own thing until one of them arbitrarily ends the game while you still had stuff you wanted to do.
@@BoardGameBollocks i have both games and they still stand up. Gotta love old fantasy flight coffin box games However my Canadian accent would not do a review justice like yours ya wanker :-)
@@BoardGameBollocks Eh, I didn't like Mage Knight my first playthrough myself. It felt needlessly complex. It wasn't until my second playthrough that I fell in love with the game! Sadly, I couldn't convince her to play that second playthrough. Lol. It's amazing solo anyway, so I think our marriage will survive :)
If you like Mage Knight, then would you consider a crack at it's spiritual daddy....Magic Realm? This is the ultimate solo experience in my humble opinion.
Man, I know I shouldn't be speaking it in public, but I like the "mediocre" Fallout board game (with both expansions) as much as I like Mage Knight regarding solo experience and exploration. When I want medieval fantasy and deck building I go with MK, when I want post-apocalypse and narrative hooks I go with Fallout, but both scratch the same "lone wanderer" itch to me. I expect in the future someone will develop a MK-like bg with added narrative, stories, moral dilemma and so on, and also a more tactical combat like a lite dungeon crawler (Hellboy for instance), it would be the perfect board game IMO. BTW I don't like Gloomhaven very much, some mechanics - specially the way the deck works - kill the game for me.
I didn't find the rules too confusing when learning it. Although, admittedly, I cut my teeth on some pretty complex wargames back in the '80s so I'm probably used to detail heavy rules. And those with a good deal of iconography to learn certainly take a bit longer to flow smoothly on the front side. It's quite enjoyable as a solitaire game. Enough so that I eventually picked up the Star Trek version too.
I've long had my eye on it, but it seems so much work to learn. You might have inspired me - maybe in a couple of years time, when the kids get lost & its just us & netflix.
The end game is not satisfying. You took over a city or two. Now what? Just not exciting after all that you build-up. I wish there were more solo scenarios with more interesting goals.
The rulebook whacks you over the head so much that I don't teach it to people..plays good solo though But has dropped a few places on my games list over the years only in the top 20 right now.
So, do Monks regularly massage a person’s bollocks? Love the channel, mate. The points of what we do and don’t like is fairly unique, I think. Plus the delivery. Perfect.
I totally agree, probably the best Solo game there is at the complex end of the boardgame spectrum. The only games I have that even come close are Eldritch Horror and Dawn of the Zeds
I honestly don't understand how you don't have at least 100K subscribers by now. You're my favorite board game channel on UA-cam by far. One of the few channels of any kind where I actually enjoy everything from the intro to the outro.
Cheers geez. I doubt there’s that many nutters on earth tbf
I agree 👍
I agree, it is almost criminal that this channel doesn't have 100k subs.
That's because all that yt BULLSHIT!
Totally agree - always to the point, insightful and worth the time. Your content always stands out and is interesting to hear. Good luck for the channel if you’re looking to grow it
Love the straightforward approach to the review. I do agree with most of the pros and cons. I know it's daunting to bring it to the table, but it is by far the most rewarding time spend learning rules you will ever have. It is one of the best solo experiences have had, but I have played it 2, 3, and 4 players, and it is a blast any number of players (assuming you have the time for it).
Mage Knight is simply a masterpiece of game design!
There's so much personality in this channel, it kills me that it's taken me until now to find it.
First time stumbling across this channel. You can an immediate subscribe from me. It's like Guy Ritchie decided to produce and direct a board game review video - I'm loving the energy, the wit, and the snark - very entertaining and informative. Bravo.
Word up!
With Jason Statham as a presenter... we need now Bricktop to snatch up the game of the year award...
Always love your review style, very unique tone compared to other board game reviews out there.
Great review of Mage Knight, definitely one of my favourite solo games but I did have to dedicate a whole day to going through the rules to properly learn it haha
Looking forward to more reviews!
The best thing about this channel is the combination of board game reviews along with the underlying feeling that I am going to get beat up. It's awesome!
Careful what you wish for…
I've played a 5 player game which went all 6 rounds (3 days and nights). We played over the course of 2 Saturdays, taking pictures and videos of our "save state" in between. It was truly epic! My guess is about 10 hours in total.
I wish I had the courage and endurance to attempt such a feat
Yep. One of the best solo experiences for sure, probably THE best.
First video of yours I have seen, really enjoyed your voice, analysis, pacing, word choice and usage. Look forward to more!
👍🏻
An absolute classic. Downloading the index in the BGG files section helps with the rules.
Mage Knight is still amazing. It takes effort, but it's always worthwhile.
Edit: I never play with more than 2, and most often play solo.
Love when you accidentally stumble across a banging channel! Instant sub
👍🏻
I play MK every few months, and have done so for the past 11 years. What stands out for me is that at least 95% of the playtime you're actually doing the FUN part - experimenting with your cards to solve seemingly impossible situations. The rulebook is clear and unambiguous but nobody seems to read it in the order that the rulebook recommends. There is nothing in the game that doesn't need to be there (it's elegant), yet it is still interesting. It takes me as little as 2 hrs to play a full 6-round solo game if I have zero AP and just 'feel' my way through the game - Four rounds in the 1st hour, two rounds in the 2nd hour, after all there are only 16+ cards to use in just 6 rounds.. but anyway i've never understood the complaints about time, you've got something better to do?? haha
Always surprised by the number of people who say they tried it and found it inaccessible. I do wonder if they followed the walkthrough that comes in the box as it does a great job of taking you through all the key elements step by step.
Still gave me a bit of headache becuase of tons of iconography to look up in insteuction.
But i like the game, needed two plays to get used to it
I tried to play this game... but it felt like I was going to university! I was like 45 minutes in, picking up the rule book, setting it down and I was like... forget this shit. I'll go play World of Warcraft! Although, watching your review, I may pull it out again!
Great review. I recently sold my copy of MK simply because all the exceptions in the rules made it a chore to learn and play. Well done.
Mage Knight is the kind of solo board gaming. For sure.
Everyone these days is ranting and raving about Earthborne Rangers. I'd love to hear your opinion on it.
Mage Knight always reminded me of tabletop miniature games, which makes sense given its roots. Lots of depth but loads upon loads of rules and exceptions to those rules.
Mage Knight just pulls you back in. You keep thinking about your choices and what rules you might have missed... And I love that it's a table hog. It's a beautiful game to look at. Glad it's one of your favorites!
From all the way here in the back, nice work fella.
So glad you reviewed this one again, I figured it's gotta be pretty good for you to bother! Watched a couple of playthrough's by Ricky Royal & pulled the trigger on it. Just played the solo scenario yesterday & it blew me away how good it is! Can see why solo's recommended though, I'd hate to have to rush my turn - puzzling over how best to use the cards & pull an amazing turn out your arse is where all the enjoyment is.
Rick did the best tutorial by far. He’s the boss.
@@BoardGameBollocks super calming voice too, he's like the David Attenborough of board gaming :D
@@BoardGameBollocks I can also recommend One Stop Coop to anyone reading this comment section. His camera work is great, so it was super-easy for me to follow along every move he made.
What a great outro music! 🤘🤘🔥
Absolutely agree. Getting into the game is tough, but once there it is so good! :)
I always ove your reviews. And couldn't agree more about Mage Knight. My #1 of all-time. I wish there was a lower barrier to entry so even more people could experience how special a game this is.
The thing about the game is the dense barrier one has to go through to learn it. There's a huge investment in powering through that initial challenge but afterwards, underneath it is a really rewarding experience. The combat system is just hands down worthwhile and I can defeat a scenario and repeat it many times as much as I have time in the world. The text guide for each map location though is a pain to memorize. At times I still have to look over them whenever they are revealed, but that pales in comparison to the atrocious rulebook 😂😂😂. Can't defend that! Lmao. Still, this game is my #1 and I won't openly dare anyone among my frienda to play and that's ok, which is why MK shines at being a solo board game.
Ahh my favorite board game! I look forward to hearing your thoughts :)
I didn’t have enough room to mention everything I’d like but you can always check out my older (shite looking) review for more stuff
Just received it, thanks to your old review.. Thanks
I just re-watched it and was sick in my mouth. Embarrassingly awful stay cam broll…blimey
The rulebook isn’t the best ( to say the least) which doesn’t help tabling the game if you’ve not played it for a while. Battles are a bit complex, cities more so. 2 player is ok, although the analysis paralysis that arises can be off putting for that. Great game though, thanks for the review
Such a solid, fun, engrossing game. It'll never leave my collection.
Simly my #1 game of all time
My #1 game of all time! (I mostly play board games solo)
And this is probably my #1 review of it! 👍
Agreed - Pre-painted minis - Good
Yeah, Mage Knight is my no. one, but Voidfall is getting closer to the no. one spot (solo mode). Have you played it, will you do a review soon? Great channel, or what ever! :)
I have it but it’s a bastard to teach so we’re struggling to play it
@@BoardGameBollocks don't give up! 🤌
Nice one, had the beast on the table once, went bollocks to this after an hour, but now I'm keen to just jump in and give it another crack
Older and wider…I mean wiser
@@BoardGameBollocks you were right the first time 🤣
I never played this game, but the way you talk about it makes me think that I need to buy it, or at lest to play it. Let's say that 4 persons decided to play the game until the end. Since it takes a long time to play the game, it will stay on the table to continue in the next day (they are really committed to finish). I have 2 questions: What would be the expected time to complete a 4 player game? Is there any problem in postponing the end of the game to another day? I mean, are there a lot of things to remember like actions, pending effects, whatever, that makes very difficult to continue the game in the next day?
Hard to say but a solo game can take 4-5 hours depending on how much you think about what your going to do. Multiply that by 4 and maybe you’ll have your answer.
I love Mage Knight!
Funny you say one of the best games of all time but never completed a 2 player game of it 😂. But I do understand completely how amazing this game is and how much it was ahead of it’s time.
Lovely stuff. A game I’m always after but always so expensive.
what me and my group didn't like... it sounded like a "hey we go on adventures recruit new stuff for our army and then will siege the final city" like Might and Magic. BUT... it's basically a race to the finish and you rarely have enough time to explore the map
Play solo
@@BoardGameBollocks even then you have the hard round limit :D
Seems like it really needs a video game adaptation.
Thanks very much for the review. Really glad you still like it too! It’s such an absorbing effort to get to a city in good enough shape to take it on. Always seems like you are not going to quite make it and then you see a possibility in the cards that gives you a ‘this just might work’ feeling: I just might make it!! This can happen several times before you get to the city/across the terrain. So it is very satisfying to make all that pay off if you complete the mission/defeat the city. For those that feel the end of the game doesn’t quite do it 🎉 for you, that might be the post climax melancholy kicking in 😅
I spent a wedge on the ultimate edition a couple of years ago and it’s still sitting on top of the kallax, unplayed and looking intimidating. I don’t think my brain can cope with learning it - it’s a pity I didn’t realise that sooner. Looks so good though
I think you can learn it. Read the rules and give it a try. Sure, you’ll make some mistakes and need to check rules, but you’ll get it. Also, there are some great How to Play videos available.
@@tonybowers9490 That’s the plan - watch some ‘how to play’ videos, read the rule book, and hope enough sinks in so that I can get started at least.
Been a while, but I think it was either Ricky Royal's and/or Paul Grogan's play-through that helped crystalized the rules for me.
Ricky Royal is a hero
Once you get going it isn't that difficult.
I love this game (solo). 👍
Great review! Played it on tabletop simulator. Enjoyed the experience despite the rules trying to get me to give up at every turn. I had to have a UA-cam how to play sitting on the second screen throughout. I can see analysis paralysis being a massive hurdle for two players, there are so many ways to put together combos with your mana and cards! I enjoyed it, but don’t think I’ll play again. I prefer computer for solo and will leave board gaming as a social experience.
A quality review about my favourite solo game.
Never played this and I'm not ashamed to say I love solo gaming. Still got 1st Ed T&T and got lost in Fighting fantasy.
Chainsaw Warrior, anyone?
I know Fantasy Flight games can be a bit expansive but have you played/reviewed Mansions of Madness 1st or 2nd Ed?
Had chainsaw warrior back in the day 👍🏻
I've played this game at a friend's place with at least 4 players on two occasions and I don't think higher player count adds anything to the game since everyone's just doing their own thing until one of them arbitrarily ends the game while you still had stuff you wanted to do.
Great job as usual. Im wondering if you thought about doing a video on fantasy flights horus heresy and or star craft?
I don’t have them I’m afraid. Feel free to send me them though 😂
@@BoardGameBollocks i have both games and they still stand up. Gotta love old fantasy flight coffin box games However my Canadian accent would not do a review justice like yours ya wanker :-)
Love Mage Knight. My wife doesn't want to play with me though because it's too complicated. Haha. Oh, well.
Divorce?
@@BoardGameBollocks Eh, I didn't like Mage Knight my first playthrough myself. It felt needlessly complex. It wasn't until my second playthrough that I fell in love with the game! Sadly, I couldn't convince her to play that second playthrough. Lol. It's amazing solo anyway, so I think our marriage will survive :)
If you like Mage Knight, then would you consider a crack at it's spiritual daddy....Magic Realm? This is the ultimate solo experience in my humble opinion.
I’ll play anything once
Man, I know I shouldn't be speaking it in public, but I like the "mediocre" Fallout board game (with both expansions) as much as I like Mage Knight regarding solo experience and exploration. When I want medieval fantasy and deck building I go with MK, when I want post-apocalypse and narrative hooks I go with Fallout, but both scratch the same "lone wanderer" itch to me. I expect in the future someone will develop a MK-like bg with added narrative, stories, moral dilemma and so on, and also a more tactical combat like a lite dungeon crawler (Hellboy for instance), it would be the perfect board game IMO.
BTW I don't like Gloomhaven very much, some mechanics - specially the way the deck works - kill the game for me.
Don’t be shy. Fallout isn’t that bad
I didn't find the rules too confusing when learning it. Although, admittedly, I cut my teeth on some pretty complex wargames back in the '80s so I'm probably used to detail heavy rules. And those with a good deal of iconography to learn certainly take a bit longer to flow smoothly on the front side.
It's quite enjoyable as a solitaire game. Enough so that I eventually picked up the Star Trek version too.
Geeza!!
I've long had my eye on it, but it seems so much work to learn. You might have inspired me - maybe in a couple of years time, when the kids get lost & its just us & netflix.
Did you say you increase your influence at the end of each round (day/night)? I thought you increase influence only if you earned it.
No you only get the reward at end of round…
MAGE KNIGHT!!! ❤
you have a way with words.
Word!
Clearly a clever game, I have seen it played, and read much praise (twice from you now).
The word ‘fun’ never seems to come up…
Sort of a perverse sadism but not as extreme…Catholic Church offers redemption on Thursdays at teatime
It is very immersive and I can loose hours playing it solo. And, unlike Tainted Grail, I don't feel that the time has been wasted.
The end game is not satisfying. You took over a city or two. Now what? Just not exciting after all that you build-up. I wish there were more solo scenarios with more interesting goals.
Same could be said about any game…
Nice shirt
TSR are the goat
The rulebook whacks you over the head so much that I don't teach it to people..plays good solo though But has dropped a few places on my games list over the years only in the top 20 right now.
Fantastic f**king review
So, do Monks regularly massage a person’s bollocks?
Love the channel, mate. The points of what we do and don’t like is fairly unique, I think. Plus the delivery. Perfect.
Only if you pay 2 influence.
@@BoardGameBollocks good to know
You keep saying you give reviews, playthroughs and unboxings, but I only seem to see reviews. Just saying 😅
I admit I haven’t done an unboxing in a while but we do regular playthroughs.
Best Sologame ever
I totally agree, probably the best Solo game there is at the complex end of the boardgame spectrum. The only games I have that even come close are Eldritch Horror and Dawn of the Zeds
What kills dawn of the zeds is availability.... So sad it doesn't get reprinted
@@gabrielm.k.8094 Agreed, in fact, I think the publisher went bust.
And all that YT bs LMAO!!!!!!!!!!