When it comes to modern board games, Z-Man Games paved the road for the hobby we know and love today. From their original hits like A Feast For Odin, to their more recent franchise Pandemic, Z-Man Games has always been a leader in the SHELF space race.
Z-Man Games recently sent my family three of their games: Stuffed Fables, Mice and Mystics, and Ultimate Railroads. Let’s unbox, play, and share our thoughts on these games starting with the two adventure games first!
Have you ever dreamt of your stuffed animals coming to life, well, in Stuffed Fables those dreams become a very fun reality! In this co-op storybook game, you will be playing as a stuffed animal that has come to life to protect their children from the creatures in their nightmares. You and your fellow stuffies will flip through pages that guide you through the different scenarios and maps of the game. The book is unique in the sense that it serves as both the rule book and the board.
Something that sets Stuffed fables apart from other games on the market is the turns being dependent on dice drawing. The dice you draw have various actions associated with them such as yellow being search, green being a ranged attack, and so on. This bit of chance really helps add to the replayability of the game as it is unlikely you will draw the same dice in two separate games.
The Oh, Brother expansion brings in two new stuffies and a brand-new storybook when a new baby brother joins the family. In this expansion we are introduced to Pokey, an adorable stuffed unicorn, and Manny, a hand-me-down action figure. Besides new stuffies, there are new enemies joining the game, adding a new layer of strategy to uncover.
Stuffed Fables really sticks with me for the theme. It is such a unique take on an adventure style game that I have not seen in other board games. Plus, I love miniatures and these stuffies are absolutely adorable!
For those of you who like a more dungeon crawler style game, like Pericle or Mini Rogue, this ones for you! In Mice and Mystics you take on the role of a loyal mouse, adventuring on a quest to save the kingdom! On your journey you will encounter foes such as rats, spiders, and even a cat.
In this cooperative game, each player will have their own role in the adventure, based on the class they belong to. You can be anything from a wizard mouse to an archer mouse, the choice is yours. The various characters' abilities is one of my favorite aspects of the game since you can play the entire game through and experience it in a whole new light, replaying it as a new role.
If you’ve ever played a dice driven RPG, then you’ll pick up Mice and Mystics with no trouble! The dice rolling brings in a certain element of luck that really keeps you on your toes, unsure of the next move you will be making. The game also incorporates one of my favorite styles of games… Dungeon crawlers! With new maps and objectives to unlock, each chapter of the game is unique in its own right.
The Downwood Tales Expansion is the larger of the two Mice and Mystics expansions and it has A LOT to unpack. In this expansion we are introduced to new characters, Villains, items, locations, and so much more! We also get the chance to meet new creatures, like frogs and turtles, while on the journey. In this packed to the brim expansion, we also find a new reptilian character, Jakobe the gecko. If you’re a fan of Mice and Mystic and want new content to add to the game, Downwood Tales might just be for you.
While Downwood Tales is a much heavier expansion, Heart of Gloom still adds a new layer to the game by introducing a new storybook and an all new hero named Neré. In this expansion we also learn about Slug Pets… a pet which each mouse receives to help them in a specific chapter of the game. My favorite aspect of Heart of Gloom would have to be the rule book. Not too much, while being enough to learn the game, the perfect sweet spot for family game nights!
One of my favorite aspects of both of these games are the maps! In many of my games, the same board is used for every session. This is not a deal breaker, but I love that the board/map is always changing from level to level in Stuffed Fables and Mice and Mystics. This adds an incredible deal to the replayability and makes every level a new adventure that requires a new strategy.
While both of these games are amazing in their own ways it's really up to you on which theme better fits your preferences as well as the preferences of the people you play with. If you’re a fan of dungeon crawlers and RPG games like Pericle, Mice and Mystics would be my suggestion. If you’re looking for a game with lots of colors, minis, and a story that makes you feel young at heart, Stuffed fables is the way to go. You seriously can’t go wrong with either of these games! One thing I will point out is, Stuffed Fables might be more fit for family game nights, while Mice and Mystics would be great for a board game group.
When I first heard of Ultimate Railroads, I immediately thought back to the first game that got me into board gaming… Ticket to Ride. After unboxing and getting this game to the table, I can tell you it will see a very substantial amount of table time!
Ultimate Railroads is the complete set of Russian Railroads and all of its expansions! In this worker placement game, players will be racing to build out their railway network. You’re not just trying to build the largest network, but also strategically leverage the advancements you make along the way.
The aspect of Ultimate Railroads that I enjoy the most is just how much game is inside the box. As I mentioned before, the box consists of Russian Railroads, the 3 current expansions, and more bonus content. Having the German, American, and Asian expansions means that there are really 4 games inside this box, rather than just one. I also love the train meeples! They look like little train tacks and I really enjoy the color system the game has.
Ultimate railroads is a BEAST on the table, much like other Z-man games! The box is a very similar size to A Feast For Odin, which means stacking them on top of each other on my shelf saves a lot of room. As per usual, I am still shocked at how much game Z-man games is able to fit into these singular game boxes… it's impressive to say the least.
If you or someone you know, enjoy Z-man games, and are looking for the railroad adventure of a lifetime, make sure to check out ultimate railroads
In the end, Z-Man Games has hit another home run with these games. Creating a universe for a game that is fun, engaging, and unique is not easy, and they did this with both of these amazing games. My final note to you is to definitely check out the expansions. I am a sucker for a good expansion and these 3 here add so much to these already great games!
Happy gaming!
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