Obsession
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.1 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
Obsession places players in the shoes of a Victorian gentry family striving to restore their estate's reputation through prestigious social events. Over 16 to 20 turns, you build a deck of eligible guests, renovate your estate by acquiring building tiles, and manage a staff of butlers, maids, and footmen using a novel worker-placement system. Hosting fox hunts, recitals, and grand balls builds wealth, reputation, and connections, while a parallel courtship storyline offers additional objectives. It's a rich deck-building and worker-placement euro for 1-4 players steeped in period atmosphere.
Hobbli's Notes
Obsession is a hidden gem for fans of Victorian-era estate settings: its deckbuilding-meets-worker-placement structure feels fresh, and thoughtful staff management adds a layer rarely seen in this genre. It's a slower burn than many euros, rewarding patient planning over many turns.
What we like
- Unique combination of deckbuilding and worker placement rarely seen together.
- Strong Victorian estate theme woven into every mechanism.
- Long 16-20 turn structure allows for satisfying long-term planning.
- Solo mode provides a strong single-player option.
Keep in mind
- Long turn count can make sessions run longer than the box suggests.
- Staff and event management may feel fiddly for new players.
- Niche theme may not appeal to players seeking more traditional euro settings.
Who it's for
Great for euro-gamers aged 14+ who enjoy deckbuilding and worker placement with a strong period theme; best with 2-4 players who enjoy longer sessions.
