With the fast approaching and highly anticipated game play reveal for Doom 4, I felt it was only appropriate to take a step into my past and review an often overlooked and underplayed game: Doom: The Boardgame.
That's right. There was, in fact, a board game based off the Doom franchise. And what many gamers may not know is that it is a board game that was the basis for multiple other games that have since become extremely popular among the table top gaming community.
Doom: The Boardgame was my first foray into the "real" table top gaming world and was the first game I ever owned that wasn't something you could buy at Wal-Mart or Target. I found out about this game during a time in my life when I didn't have access to video games or television (working as a service missionary) and I was desperate for something to scratch my gaming itch.
I stumbled upon Doom: The Boardgame and was instantly like, "they make board games based off of adult video games?" Well, I quickly bought the game despite its daunting sixty dollar price tag.
That's right. There was, in fact, a board game based off the Doom franchise. And what many gamers may not know is that it is a board game that was the basis for multiple other games that have since become extremely popular among the table top gaming community.
Doom: The Boardgame was my first foray into the "real" table top gaming world and was the first game I ever owned that wasn't something you could buy at Wal-Mart or Target. I found out about this game during a time in my life when I didn't have access to video games or television (working as a service missionary) and I was desperate for something to scratch my gaming itch.
I stumbled upon Doom: The Boardgame and was instantly like, "they make board games based off of adult video games?" Well, I quickly bought the game despite its daunting sixty dollar price tag.
Doom: The Boardgame is a game that runs in a similar manner to table top role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. One player acts as the "Invader" player. He or she takes the scenario manual and all the tiles and invader monster figures.
The rest of the players each select one marine pawn and then draw from a deck of special marine classes such as "Medic" and "Weapon Specialist." They also receive tokens representing the classic weapons and ammo from the Doom video games.
The Invader player uses the manual to see the scenario map and layout. He or she lays out the first room of the selected scenario or game level. The marines put their pawns in the room and play begins.
The Invader player reads the flavor text (the story) for each room as the marines move through the level. Monsters and beasts spawn in each area and the marines fight them off with whatever weapons and ammo they can find in loot crates around the Mars Complex.
The game ends when either the marines reach the service elevator on the opposite side of the complex or the invader player manages to kill the marines an allotted number of times for the scenario.
The rest of the players each select one marine pawn and then draw from a deck of special marine classes such as "Medic" and "Weapon Specialist." They also receive tokens representing the classic weapons and ammo from the Doom video games.
The Invader player uses the manual to see the scenario map and layout. He or she lays out the first room of the selected scenario or game level. The marines put their pawns in the room and play begins.
The Invader player reads the flavor text (the story) for each room as the marines move through the level. Monsters and beasts spawn in each area and the marines fight them off with whatever weapons and ammo they can find in loot crates around the Mars Complex.
The game ends when either the marines reach the service elevator on the opposite side of the complex or the invader player manages to kill the marines an allotted number of times for the scenario.
The first time I played Doom: The Boardgame was at a small local game day that was being held in an empty church building. It was amazing watching all the players get into the game. There was all kinds of descriptions of gory violence as the players mowed down the monsters.
After the game ended and we were leaving through the dark hallways of the building we could all still feel the chills that you might get after watching a scary movie. It was a brilliant experience.
Doom: The Boardgame is a fast paced and tactical game. The concept of being able to play a role playing type game without a ton of preparation or character creation is big benefit of a game like this.
What sets Doom: The Boardgame apart from other similar games is its theme. The survival horror elements in this game really give it a classic flavor that most horror fans will enjoy. And the room by room exploration always leaves a tension of wondering what is behind the next door.
Unfortunately, Doom: The Boardgame is now out of print (you can still find occasional used copies online). However, the game system designed for and used in this board game has lived on in multiple other games. The most popular fantasy dungeon crawl board game currently on the market, Descent: Journeys in the Dark, is based on the same gameplay system as Doom. Similarly, the new game Star Wars: Imperial Assault is also based on this system.
But neither of these games comes close to capturing the dark brooding mood and the fast paced action and violence that was in the original Doom: The Boardgame.
After the game ended and we were leaving through the dark hallways of the building we could all still feel the chills that you might get after watching a scary movie. It was a brilliant experience.
Doom: The Boardgame is a fast paced and tactical game. The concept of being able to play a role playing type game without a ton of preparation or character creation is big benefit of a game like this.
What sets Doom: The Boardgame apart from other similar games is its theme. The survival horror elements in this game really give it a classic flavor that most horror fans will enjoy. And the room by room exploration always leaves a tension of wondering what is behind the next door.
Unfortunately, Doom: The Boardgame is now out of print (you can still find occasional used copies online). However, the game system designed for and used in this board game has lived on in multiple other games. The most popular fantasy dungeon crawl board game currently on the market, Descent: Journeys in the Dark, is based on the same gameplay system as Doom. Similarly, the new game Star Wars: Imperial Assault is also based on this system.
But neither of these games comes close to capturing the dark brooding mood and the fast paced action and violence that was in the original Doom: The Boardgame.
Summing it Up
Doom: The Boardgame is by no means a perfect game. I've long since traded my copy in for other similar games (such as Mansions of Madness). However, it still remains an excellent board game that captures the trigger happy nature of the original Doom video games. Often when I am playing Doom on my PC I find myself wanting to go back and play the board game again.
Language: 1
Gore Factor: 3 (Depends on the players)
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 1
Fun Factor: 4
Overall Rating: 4
Language: 1
Gore Factor: 3 (Depends on the players)
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 1
Fun Factor: 4
Overall Rating: 4