Middara: Unintentional Malum - Act 1

Middara: Unintentional Malum - Act 1

AdventureExplorationFantasyFighting
Players
1-4
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
4 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
60 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
15+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
4.1 / 5
Year
2019

About the game

Middara is a 1-4 player cooperative, choose-your-own-adventure miniatures game set in an ultra-modern fantasy world existing alongside our own Earth. Players guide a party of adventurers through an enormous narrative campaign, with over 90 hours of content and real decisions that permanently shape the story's course and outcome. Combat uses an innovative dual-dice system, where equipped weapons and abilities determine unique dice combinations for attacks and damage, layered with over 110 abilities and 150 pieces of equipment. Thirty-six modular map tiles bring diverse locations to life, from magical forests to swamps, while AI-controlled monsters and NPCs drive encounters. It's built for a dedicated group ready to invest in a long-running, consequence-heavy campaign, with standalone scenarios also available for one-off sessions.

Hobbli's Notes

Middara offers one of the most ambitious narrative campaigns in the cooperative miniatures space, with genuine story branching that can send different groups down wildly different paths. The dice-based combat system has enough depth and customization to stay interesting across dozens of sessions. This is a serious investment of time, table space, and rules-learning, so it's really only for groups committed to seeing a long campaign through. For that audience, though, it delivers an unusually personal and consequential story.

What we like

  • Massive narrative campaign with meaningful branching choices.
  • Innovative dual-dice combat system with deep customization.
  • Strong miniatures and modular map production.
  • Huge amount of content, over 90 hours in the base campaign.

Keep in mind

  • Very high complexity and long campaign commitment.
  • Significant setup and rules overhead each session.
  • Story consequences require a consistent group across many sessions.

Who it's for

Best for dedicated cooperative gaming groups ages 15+ ready to commit to a long, complex narrative campaign.

Mechanics

Action PointsCooperative GameDice RollingMovementHand ManagementModular BoardRole PlayingScenario / Mission / Campaign GameSolo / Solitaire GameStorytellingVariable Player Powers

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