Catacombs

About this board game

Catacombs is an action-and-dexterity adventure board game for 2–5 players, designed to play in around 60 minutes. One player becomes the Overseer, controlling the monsters, while the other players cooperate as four heroes exploring the catacombs.

The game’s central mechanism is simple to learn and highly tactile: players flick wooden discs representing heroes and monsters across the play area. Hitting an opposing piece inflicts damage, while missiles, spells, and other special abilities can create additional effects.

Each hero has special abilities that must be used effectively to overcome the dangers ahead. The heroes work together to clear the monsters from each room, allowing them to move farther into the catacomb as their adventure continues.

• Action-based play: Flick wooden discs to attack opposing pieces.
• Cooperative adventure: Players control four heroes who must work together.
• Character abilities: Use each hero’s special abilities to improve the party’s chances.
• Progression: Spend gold taken from fallen monsters on items and equipment upgrades from the Merchant.
• Final confrontation: Face the Catacomb Lord as the ultimate danger.

The heroes are not the only side with a path to victory. They win by defeating the Catacomb Lord, while the Overseer wins if all of the heroes are defeated. This creates a direct contest between coordinated hero play and the Overseer’s control of the catacomb’s monsters.

With quick setup and fast play, Catacombs combines cooperative decision-making, special abilities, and physical dexterity in a compact fantasy adventure released in 2010.