Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Core Set

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Core Set

AdventureCard GameFantasyFighting
Players
1-4
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
1 player
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
90 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
13+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
3.0 / 5
Year
2019

About the game

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Core Set is a cooperative deck-building game for one to four players that blends card game mechanics with role-playing progression. Players choose a character class, build a deck of weapons, spells, allies, and blessings, and explore dangerous locations while battling monsters and overcoming traps drawn from the deck itself. As characters succeed, they add powerful new gear and magic to their decks, growing stronger to face tougher threats. This core set includes the full Dragon's Demand Adventure Path storybook along with a modular scenario system for building custom adventures, and games run about 90 minutes.

Hobbli's Notes

This is a clever fusion of deck-building and RPG-style character progression, with the deck itself acting as your character sheet, inventory, and health track all at once. The cooperative structure and zero downtime rating mean everyone stays engaged throughout, which is a real strength for the genre. It does require some setup and card sorting between sessions, so it works best for a group willing to commit to a recurring campaign. Fans of narrative-driven cooperative card games will find a lot of lasting content here.

What we like

  • Rich deck-building tied directly to character progression.
  • Cooperative gameplay scales from solo to four players.
  • Extensive Dragon's Demand Adventure Path included for hours of content.
  • Modular core allows fully customizable difficulty.

Keep in mind

  • Significant setup and card sorting required between sessions.
  • Campaign structure benefits from a consistent recurring group.
  • Luck of the deck can swing individual encounters.

Who it's for

Great for cooperative game fans who enjoy RPG-style progression and deck-building, in groups of one to four, ages 13 and up.

Mechanics

Cooperative GameDeck / Bag BuildingDice RollingHand ManagementMove Through DeckRole PlayingScenario / Mission / Campaign GameVariable Player Powers

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