Monsters on Board
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.8 / 5
- Year
- 2022
About the game
Monsters on Board casts players as monster clan leaders preparing for the Blue Moon Monster Mixer, sending disciples into the town of Startleton to scare up Spook Juice. Over six rounds, players draft arriving Monster Lord dice, balancing scarier (higher-value) monsters against the more useful actions offered by lesser monsters. Drafted monsters move matching miniatures through town, triggering bonus actions and terrorizing townsfolk for extra rewards. Arch Monsters and Ghosts add extra ways to fulfill personal Prophecy cards for bonus scoring. The player who scares up the most Spook Juice by game's end wins the mixer.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team appreciates the playful horror-party theme layered over a solid dice-drafting engine -- the tension between grabbing powerful dice versus useful actions is a neat little puzzle each round. The miniatures and town board give it a nice tabletop presence for a mid-weight game. It runs a bit long for its complexity level, and the drafting can create some downtime while waiting for your turn. Fans of drafting games with a fun theme should enjoy it, though it may not surprise players looking for something mechanically novel.
What we like
- Dice drafting creates meaningful trade-offs between power and utility each round.
- Fun, family-friendly monster-party theme with characterful miniatures.
- Multiple scoring paths (Prophecy cards, town terror, Arch Monsters) add strategic variety.
- Six-round structure keeps the game moving toward a clear finish.
Keep in mind
- Downtime can build up while waiting for other players' drafting turns.
- Playtime runs long relative to the game's moderate complexity.
- Theme is stronger than the mechanisms, which are fairly standard drafting fare.
Who it's for
Good for families and casual gamers aged 12 and up who enjoy dice-drafting games with a lighthearted horror theme, ideally in groups of three to four.
