Familiar Tales
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 8+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.5 / 5
- Year
- 2022
About the game
Familiar Tales is a cooperative deckbuilding fantasy adventure for one to four players who take on the roles of a wizard's familiars raising and protecting a displaced princess. Using a browser-based companion app for professionally narrated storytelling, players explore a branching storybook world, fight off enemies, and build custom skill decks that let their familiars level up over a long campaign. Every choice shapes the growing princess and the eventual fate of the kingdom. It's designed by Jerry Hawthorne, known for the acclaimed Mage Knight, bringing deep tactical card play to a heartfelt, narrative-driven package.
Hobbli's Notes
Having a designer of Jerry Hawthorne's caliber behind this shows in the depth of the skill-deck customization, which elevates it well above typical family co-op fare. The fully voiced, app-driven storytelling is a real differentiator and makes the campaign feel more like an interactive audiobook than a standard board game. The app requirement is worth flagging for anyone who prefers a fully analog experience.
What we like
- Richly narrated campaign with professional voice acting via the companion app.
- Deep character customization through deckbuilding.
- Appealing family-friendly animal-familiar fantasy theme.
- Designed by acclaimed designer Jerry Hawthorne of Mage Knight fame.
Keep in mind
- Requires a companion app, reducing portability compared to fully analog games.
- Long campaign length is a significant time commitment.
- Deck customization complexity may challenge some younger players despite the suggested age.
Who it's for
Great for families and cooperative gamers age 8+ looking for a long, narrative-driven campaign with real deckbuilding depth.
