Sanctum
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 100 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.6 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
Sanctum is a competitive hack-and-slash strategy game where each player controls a unique hero delving into the fallen city of Sanctum to build up skills and gear before facing the fearsome Demon Lord. On your turn you choose to move deeper into the city engaging demon minions, fight the enemies you've engaged to earn skill upgrades and items, or rest to equip loot and recover resources. Although multiple players may survive the final battle, only one can claim the glory of defeating the Demon Lord and purifying Sanctum. Player interaction comes through racing for position and equipment drafts rather than direct combat between heroes.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team likes how Sanctum translates the addictive hack-and-slash video game loop into a competitive tabletop race rather than a simple fight-to-the-death. The tension of racing rivals for equipment drafts and boss-fight positioning gives it a different feel from typical cooperative dungeon crawlers. Its four distinct characters with unique skill trees provide solid replayability across sessions. We recommend it for groups who enjoy RPG progression themes with a competitive, race-style twist.
What we like
- Unique competitive spin on the hack-and-slash dungeon crawl genre.
- Four distinct characters offer varied skill trees and playstyles.
- Racing for equipment drafts adds tense player interaction without direct combat.
- Satisfying character progression throughout the game.
Keep in mind
- Long 100-minute playtime for a competitive game.
- Limited direct conflict may disappoint players wanting more combat interaction.
- As a niche title, comparisons to genre classics carry some uncertainty.
Who it's for
Great for RPG and dungeon-crawl fans aged 12+ who enjoy competitive character progression and combat in groups of 2-4.
