Keep the Heroes Out!

Keep the Heroes Out!

FantasyFighting
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.
40 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.5 / 5
Year
2022

About the game

Keep the Heroes Out! is an asymmetric cooperative dungeon-defense game where players take on the role of monsters guarding their treasure-filled lair against waves of invading heroes. Each turn, players draw and play cards to move, activate dungeon tiles, and attack the incoming looters. Working as a team, players must survive two waves of heroes across each scenario to protect their treasure rooms. With deck/bag building, modular boards, and variable setups, it offers a fresh challenge each playthrough.

Hobbli's Notes

Hobbli's editorial team likes the 'reverse dungeon crawl' hook of playing the monsters instead of the heroes for once. The cooperative, scenario-based structure gives it a nice campaign feel without excessive length. It's accessible enough for newer cooperative gamers while still offering tactical decisions each round. The variable set-up keeps replays feeling distinct.

What we like

  • Fun role-reversal theme of playing the dungeon's defenders.
  • Scenario-based campaign structure adds variety.
  • Solo mode makes it flexible for one player.
  • Modular setup keeps replays feeling different.

Keep in mind

  • Niche theme may not appeal to all cooperative gamers.
  • Card-driven action selection can feel fiddly at first.
  • Smaller community and less shared knowledge than bigger genre titles.

Who it's for

Good for cooperative game fans aged 10+ who enjoy asymmetric dungeon-defense themes, playable solo or in groups up to four.

Mechanics

Action RetrievalMovementCooperative GameDeck / Bag BuildingModular BoardScenario / Mission / Campaign GameSolo / Solitaire GameVariable Player PowersVariable Set-up

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