Playing Around – Video Game to Tabletop

Dark Souls is a popular role play videogame franchise that was first released in 2011 and quickly gained a big following. It takes place in an open world environment, so obviously there is a lot of exploration involved. The plot isn’t too detailed, but basically there’s a prophecy that must be fulfilled and you’re the one to do it. Oh, and there are plenty of monsters and magic thrown in along the way. And now, you can attempt to fulfill that prophecy with friends in a tabletop version. 

Available to the public at the beginning of May (after raising more than $5 million on Kickstarter), Dark Souls is a combat game for up to four players. (Interestingly, it’s listed as “1-4 players”, meaning it’s apparently possible to play on your own.) It is touted as requiring “strategic thinking, clever planning, and exemplary execution to succeed.” The game is designed specifically for the Dark Souls universe, thus appealing to those already familiar with the console version. It introduces some interesting gameplay mechanics (using a tile system) and includes miniatures reminiscent of the characters found in the videogames.

With a $120 suggested retail price, the game is not for the casual player. But those into the universe will get a lot out of it, both in what’s included with the game itself and the replay value. Plus, it’s a good excuse to gather some friends around a table for a change of scenery.

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