Mice & Mystics Review - with Tom and Melody Vasel

[@kurtoogle4576]

This is a beautiful, interesting and fun game that I truly enjoy playing (and yes - always do 4 characters). WARNING - be ready with lots of small ziplock bags to store each character, as the story takes many sessions and characters have a lot of components. There are also a LOT of pieces, which you will want to keep separate. IMPORTANT -as soon as you get this game track down the RULES ERRATA - there are lots of issues with items and strategies.

[@toonu]

Achievements or Acheesements?

[@TheBlackWatchRHR]

Oh how cheesy

[@judgewilson2410]

Yup pretty “cheesy”

[@frostyz_1166]

That's pretty mice

[@tanstermonster5289]

*Groooan*

[@tanstermonster5289]

@@frostyz_1166 ***GROOOOAN***

[@marantzdantz9685]

Bought this game 2 weeks ago and went through the first chapter today. Was a blast! I was looking for a good dungeon crawler to introduce my daughter into fantasy boardgames and wanted something simple. Looking back on HeroQuest I wanted to buy that again. Collector grade boxed sets are $100+ and this cost me half that. Great game and the miniatures like you stated are very well done. I give it 5/5 so far and yes there is TONS of room for expansion.

[@MrWynnr]

Fantastic game! My wife, kids & I are on Chapter 5 of the story so far and are loving it! Amazing production value! Well worth the cost which was LESS than the last time we all went out to a movie!

[@FoxgazeGrimoire]

I really like this game. It has a lot of charm and some great mechanics. The minis are really nice. More monsters would have been nice, I will agree. I think the cards weren't the best card stock, so sleeves for me were a must.

[@2112dorf]

Great! Thanks for the info. This hobby has eluded me since I was a kid because I couldn't find anyone to play them. I'm now 44 years old. Better late than never. I bought Car Wars and laminated the map to keep it flat...

[@konstantinkhomoutov7672]

Heh, just stumbled upon your comment and was amused to read it - I've started playing at exactly the same age, last year, with my 8 y.o. son. About to embark on Mice and Mysteries now ;-)

[@jamstrat]

Great to hear you mention the Redwall series. I have almost the full collection, read them as a kid and now my children are reading them.

[@erictarver7325]

I just bought this New at Barnes & Noble for $37!

[@frostyz_1166]

I got mine for 100$ cad

[@cheeseman350]

I did a full demo at Gen Con and it was a blast. I didn't get to hear the story aspect because it was so loud but it was still a ton of fun. I got to play with a 10 year old and he picked it up quickly, however I was still having a good time playing. I am very excited to go through the story. It seems well written and has some exciting elements. Everything just works the way it should which makes it seem easier or less complicated. There is depth here I think.

[@PeterSchott]

Definitely intrigued by this, but just don't have the funds to get it anytime soon (let alone on pre-order). Sounds like a lot of fun and the potential expansions and new stories coming, including player-developed ones, means that this can easily keep going for a while. Adding to my "someday" list. :)

[@bitsandbolts7884]

Thank goodness im not the only one ho saw Redwall when I looked at this.

[@Legendkiller595]

this game is featured on "WatchitPlayed" on a youtube channel. Its a family showing you the game being played.

[@CritsHappen]

Great look at the game, I missed this at Gen Con because there were literally SO many people around the table. Thanks for posting this one Tom!

[@SpookyTimestamps]

Just ordered this over the weekend. Looks fun. I'm quite new to board games; but this one brings elements from Escape: The Curse of the Temple and Forbidden Island that I quite liked. Fun theme and nice art too. Can't wait to play!

[@ktdo2435]

Thanks for posting! Melody is adorable and a helpful reviewer!

[@omelettecrap]

lol the dropping pieces at the start are actually quite enjoyable to watch. Good job!

[@MakerHorde]

I love this game, especially since it reminds me so much of the Redwall series. The do say in the rulebook that there are plans for future "stories", aka expansions, so you may get that variety in monsters in those future releases. Love the review!

[@The_-_Futurist24]

Finally bought this. Reference to redwall, I'm sold. Loved the books growing up.

[@spearcd00]

Great review Tom and Melody, you guys convinced me to buy this. The first thing that came to mind was Redwall and I hope to see some fan story conversions on BGG!

[@JaKamps]

I have the D&D boardgame: Legend of Drizzt, is this game different enough that I should check it out? They do seem similar.

[@jonofpdx]

Old comment but if you haven't picked it up yet then...maybe. This game is meatier than the D&D Adventure System games (Ravenloft, Ashardalon, Drizzt). There are more rules and more variance between chapters, leading to more variety from scenario to scenario. There is also WAY more story than in the Adventure System games. The hero customization is on par or better and the rules generally tend to flow better (though they ARE more complicated). That being said, there is also a lot less plastic here. Way fewer minis (though what's there is of slightly better quality...for the most part) and a lot less variety in enemies generally. And even different types of enemies tend to act similarly. The enemies generally are the best feature of the Adventure System games and Mice & Mystics can't QUITE match up there. Adventure system is also just plain simpler to teach and if you play with a lot of new players that can be a big deal. And one thing that CANNOT be overstated is that there are some gamers that WILL NOT play Mice & Mystics right. It requires long pauses for exposition and storytelling and a little light role playing. This is REQUIRED as the game really doesn't function well as a straight-faced dungeon crawler. A few gamers in your group that take themselves a little too seriously can kill a game of this in its tracks. Bottom line--these are two games that are UNDOUBTEDLY of the same genre but have very different feels. Adventure System games are simple dungeon crawlers that work great with new players and those who appreciate the minis. Mice & Mystics is all about the story and setting and playing it is less about killing enemies and finding loot as it is about experiencing the story of Colin and his band of faithful allied mice. Your mileage is going to vary. In the right group that embraces it, I find Mice & Mystics to be the better game. But it's also a game that can be ruined by a bad mood at the table or a player that can't embrace the theme and I wouldn't fault anyone in investing in one of the other Adventure System games instead (especially as those kit-bash together very well--though not so much the tiles as Drizzt uses a different look vs Ravenloft and Ashardalon).

[@JaKamps]

I wasn't aware of some of those differences. Thank you for the comparisons & for sharing your opinion!

[@jonofpdx]

Sure. As you can probably tell from my synopsis I really like both games but feel like they kind of fit two different groups. Or at least, two different moods at the table. If you are willing to be a bit silly and go along with the fairy tale and have a stable group to go through the entire campaign with Mice & Mystics is FANTASTIC. But if you just want a medium weight, pick-up-and-play dungeon crawler then the Adventure system games are just plain easier to get to the table.

[@Homersan123]

Definately need to add this to my family gaming collection!

[@2112dorf]

Could you do an overview of Car Wars? I can't seem to find any videos on it...

[@davedogge2280]

I've been looking into that, it's a relatively rarely played game and not often found in shops these days, the box is tiny and it's been around since around 1983 (ish). I did see Steve Jacksons Car Wars the card game at my local store though.

[@hidrotule2001]

random factoid of the day: Brian Jacques last name is actually pronounced "Jakes"

[@winterplum]

"It's cute"...lol, I agree with Melody there and in fact, that is what first drew me into pre-ordering this game. Who could resist those tiny whiskered furry faces? Anyhow, thanks to you both for this preview, it was just as I had hoped it would be, light, adventuresome, story driven, and accessable to the younger branches of our family. It's like Disney meets D&D I suppose. Certainly worth smiling about.

[@yamel91]

Just got this game for Easter today. I've read online that it's out of print.

[@Pokomonsss]

Wow. I paused at 11:12 to look at something. The face he made is priceless.

[@MajMalfunction10]

Rolling just adds extra movement points to the heroes. They don't just move what is rolled.

[@MajMalfunction10]

I did a full demo at GenCon and the game was a LOT of fun.

[@TragicTableTop]

had this on pre-order... I'm very excited for this!!!

[@kiprm208]

Does look awsome and I can see this having expansions galore!

[@ImDoneItsOver]

First off I JUST started this video with the mention of RedWall.. HECK yeah Tom now that was and is a great series of books for ALL ages :)

[@prinnydood]

Good job. I am glad I am a part of this historic event.

[@mib008]

Tom or other players, is this a good game to play with just two (adult) players? Thanks!

[@alaaji2]

Wow! I can get game recommendations as well as book recommendations as well. Just bought the book for 99 cents. I'll have to hold off on the game for now. $52 is a bit steep.

[@SaucyStudio]

seems like a really interesting game.

[@GadgetAckman]

This actually looks and sounds quite interesting.

[@TheOtherGuy27]

He kinda sped through the list of similar games; can anyone provide a list?

[@ZeroTSONG]

Wrath of Ashardalon, Legend of Drizzt, and Castle Ravenloft. They're all D&D-themed games.

[@jaxommm]

Correct me if I am wrong, this is not a big box game a la Twilight Imperium III or Eclipse. correct? Then, why the $70-$90 pirce tag plus shipping!!! Ouch!

[@christopherrahman1358]

Loved Redwall!

[@dillond9599]

I wonder if Zman Games took some of these ideas when they made Aftermath. Group of mice fighting cockroaches and rats, with a big cat and raven that occasionally attack. Maps look similar art style, and the minis. This one sounds like its story is more fleshed out, Aftermath didn't explain much of the mystery

[@thegillettefive]

This game looks great. However I think I am spoiled on descent 2.0. I think that is going to be hard to beat that one.

[@BrokenSplinter]

Don't worry I'm sure some add on will come along :P

[@Jeremysw2]

this VS legends of Drizzt?

[@jaxommm]

Arkham, of course. M and M's theme is awesome...but Arkham is deep, deep, deep...countless expansions and ways to add to the aesthetic appeal of the game.

[@billjensen51]

Would it be a horrible thing to house rule movement to be a standard (average) amount? I don't understand why movement would be a dice roll and it seems making one less roll could reduce dice rolling, make more sense, and allow for more strategy.

[@Ooittee]

This done for a couple of reasons. Each roll has a chance of coming up Cheese and if so helps the players if they roll it or adds to the surge wheel if the minions roll it, it basically pushes the game along. As a player its good to be rolling dice. It also adds a random factor to the movement as minions have no base movement score and can only move the rolled number in spaces, where players have a base plus roll so can usually move further, mice are fast after all.

[@vinclash7763]

Maybe they'll make a sequel and or expansions that could come with more characters and tiles and stuff etc. 🙂

[@Gamebent1]

They already have 2 expansions. They're called M&M: Heart of Glorm and M&M: Downward Tales.

[@YourPalHDee]

great video, thanks.

[@2112dorf]

Can this be played solo? As a general rule, couldn't all co op games be played solo by me controlling all of the players?

[@MrVisionDoctor]

Yes it can be played, it is from 1-4 players

[@DominguezFishing]

Anyone who owns the game care to chime in on how well this game aged? It looks amazing and never done a dungeon crawl game, people still like playing it or play it more than just once?

[@CaptainDaniValentine]

I only own 2 actual board games that are any fun. Zombicide and Arkham Horror. If I was at your house, I'd have a field day with all those board games.

[@RandomActions]

luckily both games have expansions for daaaaaays

[@davedogge2280]

I've got every single zombicide game and expansion, even those rare Gaming night expansions produced by 3rd parties. Also I saw something interesting on Steam for PC ... there's a Virtual Table Top app and the DLC for one was Zombicide, it doesn't implement the rules put it has a nice 3d rendition of a gaming board and cardboard figures.

[@redfox4242]

Great video! Thanks.

[@SirMillz]

Is this game better than Mouse Gaurd?

[@razrsedj2776]

Really good game. Enjoyed it.

[@mrmgrace]

Beautiful looking game.... Looks fun :))

[@aaron.debattista]

Kid's adorable :D

[@theclash24]

redwall was great.... i always thought that this game should have been redwall the game lol

[@bagospannerz]

This is so expensive in the uk, :( I don't think gaming is as big here. Just bought redwall instead!

[@jaxommm]

Almost ALL co-ops are good with two players, I would say.

[@neverokay8]

Good review! But you should let her talk more ;)

[@xironbeastx8677]

Anyone here play mouse guard?

[@minigamersalliance4713]

more monsters? I smell and expansion lol.

[@2112dorf]

No big deal. Lots of times while playing these games I make notes listing my own rules anyhow...

[@petersybrandi525]

very nice looking

[@brownrhythms]

Outside of needing to roll to move, I'm the opposite.

[@Beckikaze]

Simpler than the D&D games? Hmm...

[@TotalSapphicPanic]

have fun... read more

[@jaxommm]

A kid's version for $80.00? Yikes!

[@jacobwardell6365]

Would this be too scary for a 6 year old girl?

[@Medsas]

firstttt

[@ErmineskinCreelov]

Uh-oh. The more I am hearing about this game, the less enthused I feel.

[@Cosper79]

drizzt not drizzit