Leviathan Wilds is Spectacular

[@JoVanEyck]

I first heard about this game on your podcast (of course you have listeners, even if we don’t email) and instabacked the second print run. Love the quality of your reviews, the effort you put into them clearly shows. Cheers to the both of you!

[@SanderPastoor]

Greatly appreciate the timing of this video. The second print run just started funding and this is really helping me make an informed decision.

[@Rugerfred]

As a game designer that strongly believes in crossmediality (I'm one of the co-designers of CMON's Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City board game) I really love seeing video games used to discuss this one. The inspirations were clear, and it's good to remember that influence is often crossmedial. I backed this without a doubt. ;)

[@jotaf98]

Love this game, it allows for so many creative plays! Despite the look it's also *not* a campaign game Which was a big factor for me, I can easily replay a previous leviathan with a new-ish character/class combination for a more chill experience, or move up and learn to beat a new leviathan for a bigger challenge!

[@faao2509]

I can't believe this. Just three months ago I started working on a game system for a board game version of Shadow of the Colossus-one of my all-time favorites, so inspiring, it completely changed how I think about game design. I'm getting chills

[@NoPunIncluded]

There's always room for more than one take!

[@faao2509]

​@@NoPunIncluded As I finished watching the review-they were so technical yet also so evocative, I still don't know how you manage that-I can say this: the way this game interprets SotC is quite different from my own vision. And I can't wait to try it because of that. It's always a pleasure to watch you.

[@starfallen888]

Also check out Skulk Hollow and Maul Peak!

[@spazticdrummer7]

I got the first printing and have not stopped playing this since!

[@bonescollector5367]

First of all , thank you for your video. You do a great job! I played Leviathan Wilds at a convention and thought it was ok. I wasn't blown away. One thing that bothered me , was the publishing choice of using those tiny dice. Why? If one of the games mechanics is highlighted by dice , why would you choose to make them small? It bothered me. The Game definitely has good variety and replayability. I definitely enjoyed Dire Wolf's new game " Invincible " , much more. I have nothing at stake here , just in case you're wondering. Again , thank you for your video.

[@somefishhere]

I love campaign games where you react to enemy movements, like Gloomhaven! I was interested in the Santorini co-op campaign. This seems like a nice meld of the two! In terms of spot in a collection, if not mechanics and theme. Beautiful theme, btw. Love the footage of climbing games and British landscapes. The close up b-rolls of the game components were nice as well!!!

[@ReadyPlayerRog]

You said Shadows of the Colossus so many times I began to doubt myself as to it's proper name 😂. It Shadow of the Colossus. Keep up the great work

[@georginatoland]

This video may not have completely sold me on buying the boardgame…but I did immediately track down a used disc of Shadow of the Colossus for my old PS2. 😁

[@rossmau]

This is such a great game that can appear lightweight at first, but really has breadth and depth. The unique characteristics of each class/character make everyone sort of focused on your own abilities that you really do need to collaborate because it's harder for one person to quarterback the whole thing. Highly recommend picking this one up folks!

[@Andy_Quest]

this game has come out of nowhere but gosh it sounds and looks great! Thanks for the awesome review! 🎉

[@danieljdm9519]

Oooh, brobdingnagian is a good word. I think I still prefer pantagruelian as my go-to extravagant word for very large, but I'll have to throw brobdingnagian into the rotation too.

[@Taskuko]

I heard of this game first from the NPI podcast (Talk Cardboard, go listen to it people!), got interested and decided to wait for a video. The game looks excellent! Pretty much a type of game I'm looking for right now: a lighter co-op. Probably gonna go and crowdfund it. Thanks for a great review 👌

[@videk_online]

Great review as always, Efka!

[@theovermatt]

This looks great and I'm almost definitely gonna back the new printing. I also just wanted to give a shout out to Skulk Hollow, which is similar but a strictly 1v1 2-player game. Great game as well for anyone who ever saw Shadow of the Colossus and wanted to try playing one of the Colossi.

[@TheAmazingYeti]

Have you played the sequel? Maul Peak? Also really fun.

[@MrCowabungaa]

As someone who, silly as it may sound, has a lot of problems thinking ahead and planning in board games the reactive nature sounds extremely appealing to me. Goes to show how good a review this! A good review tells you if you like the game regardless of whether the reviewer liked it or not.

[@ItWasSaucerShaped]

'way-haayyy ouching' is my verb of 2024

[@the_verTigO]

0:45 Look mom, I'm in the video!

[@AlexanderStashevsky]

ooooh, I was really trying to avoid backing this game (due to budget and space issues), but after your review I cannot resist it anymore. I'm backing it right now. (thank you, although, for a prominent section of issues and gripes with the game)

[@riddlesphinxx]

“It surpasses the work that inspired it” WOAH, slow down there sir

[@riogakun]

Hahaha. Not even remotely close.

[@ascendingrules]

Props for using "Brobdingnagian" in a review-- I felt a thrill when you said it. :) I also have an irrational fear of heights, but this seems very interesting. Do you have an idea of whether it would be a good solo game?

[@AhJong0]

Cracking review, as ever 😊

[@svai303]

Hey I've played that at UKGE, and I'm not sure if it was the final game or a prorotype. XD But it was quite an interesting game!

[@leafsneakers3257]

This game isn't for me, but I just enjoy your videos and thoughts on the games you cover. Keep it up!

[@thepurpleherring]

Waldemar Januszczak of Board Games ❤

[@muotes]

The only thing better than a NPI video is a SUSD video on the same game at the same time (not sarcasm it’s actually great)

[@styfen]

This has fast become one of my favourite "boss battlers" of the year. It's really unique and refreshing.

[@meander112]

Engagement for the engagement god!

[@MB-zf8hp]

Hi Efka, great video. What do you think about LWs scaling to player/climber count? Sure, with fewer players you get more turns before the Leviathan escalates, but you have less map presence (as in almost any game with a map) and more importantly, you have fewer cards (or more turns) and fewer hit points. Did I miss something or is the answer to that "deal with it"?

[@jonathanfranklin461]

I am astounded that you don't get nauseous watching someone play Assassin's Creed or other games with lots of looking down steep cliffs or falling to the ground in a realistic setting. My reaction is definitely in both virtual and physical environments. Re the game, looking forward to trying it.

[@TheSchaef47]

Because of course there are exactly seventeen leviathans in the book.

[@kevoreilly6557]

I get vertigo when I even see someone on screen at a height!

[@thumper8684]

I am okay with climbing and I can handle a certain amount of falling, but I think you can have too much falling. 2 meters is a bit much for me.

[@saveversus]

Anyone looking to play the game: The first two leviathans are basically Demo monsters; they're simple, boring, and don't hit the theme very well. Play them solo if you need to grasp the game concept to teach other players, but otherwise start on the third one.

[@Jeepllama]

Wait is that actually two meters. How tall is your table.

[@NoPunIncluded]

it is not, actually, two meters

[@chumito10]

Weird cut at 10:20, but it doesn't matter! As always, your reviews are fantastic!

[@bigsarge2085]

✌✌

[@TechFan711]

Better co-op than sts?? 😮😮😮

[@NoPunIncluded]

Yeah maybe. It's so snappy and satisfying and free of some of the faff that STS has. But it's a very close call.

[@TechFan711]

Well then I just might have to (strongly encourage one of my friends to) back the 2nd printing

[@yarondavidson6434]

Wow, less than half a minute in and Efka is saying that videogames aren't real. Like videogames are ghosts, or leprechauns, or dragons or something? Maybe a shared dream or mass hallucination? I love boardgames, I can sort of understand someone becoming a boardgame zealot, but to go so fanatical as to deny the mere existance of other types of games... Sad. 😛

[@NoPunIncluded]

yet another NPI controversy

[@descender421]

Great review! Is it weird that I find your voice a bit soothing?

[@Sparticuse]

Saying Leviathan Wilds is heavily reactive is totally fair, but comparing it to Daybreak is an odd choice. I found Daybreak's biggest problem is the card draw being too random and each player not really being able to plan or lean in to their roles because they may never actually draw the symbols they need just to enhance what they already have.

[@NoPunIncluded]

I'm not comparing them, I am contrasting them.

[@Sparticuse]

@NoPunIncluded that's my point, though. You aren't creating contrast because they are both super reactive games.

[@NoPunIncluded]

@@Sparticuse I see! But I don't think I agree. You're right, the card draw in Daybreak can definitely stuff you, but I think the difference here is that in Daybreak you can still actively try to formulate a strategical plan. Whether you succeed at that or not is another matter. For a lot of people, that informs the course of play. I don't think Leviathan Wilds has the scope for that, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a matter of preference.

[@Tacorian]

5:38. HUH?

[@kasparbaktat964]

This interaction with a game developer is aesthetically pleasing 😀

[@mreed7947]

My spouse and I played this and she didn't dig it. I did and I don't like co-ops and she does. So since she didn't like it and I'm never reaching for co-ops we decided to sell it. We only played the first Leviathan. Everything I've heard since selling it is the first Leviathan​ is boring in comparison to the others. I wish we would have played one more Leviathan before moving it on.

[@NoPunIncluded]

The first Leviathan is definitely a nothingburger. But also, the real tension of the game emerges at higher player counts.

[@lukemusgrave8503]

Hey NPI, just wanted to give you some feedback because I like your channel. I think your intro to the game is a bit too long-winded, I'm 3 and a half minutes into the video and you still haven't even started talking about the game. I'm all for a little context, but this was too much. Anyways, enjoyed the video and excited to play my copy when it arrives!

[@MehdiHusain]

NPI and SUSD have made me buy a lot of meh games.

[@KristoVaher]

Non-paid perhaps, but this is QUITE a marketing magic to get both NPI and SU&SD to cover a game for you with praise in the same week while crowdfunding happens.

[@NoPunIncluded]

So the way this happened is that because Leviathan Wilds is very indie and has almost no in-built audience we knew that we would have to time the release right to get the video any attention. Which meant releasing it when the campaign went live and there is most interest. It is entirely unsurprising that SUSD thought the same thing.

[@seanmcgowan4842]

I allow myself one crowdfunded game per year. Here we are in (almost) September, no crowdfunding for me yet, and your video is making quite a compelling case for a guy whose sweet spot is light/mid-weight coops!

[@michaellee6537]

I get that some of the board games NPI has recently reviewed have been video game adaptations, but I am getting tired of the video game as an example for the board game.