Gloom (2nd Edition)

Aftering seeing this game on Tabletop, I had to have it. As a writer, reader, and lover of stories I immediately saw the potential in this game for a lot of funny stories and its replay ability. The object of this game is to make your family miserable by playing cards with negative self worth on them. These cards, which are clear and such a unique concept in and of themselves, have a modifier value and a brief explanation of what happened. Maybe your character went out in the woods for an adventure and was pierced by porcupines or maybe they found fame at a feast. Cards can raise or lower a character's value so typically you want to play negative value card on your own characters and a positive value card on the other player's characters. And many of the cards have additional things that happen when you play them. You may have to skip your draw phase, discard your entire hand, draw cards, or give them to other players. As a beginner you can play without these rules to make the game easier but it does add a bit of strategy once you're more familiar with the game.One of the pros and cons of this game is that it really depends on the people you're playing with. If you are in a group of likeminded friends that enjoy stories, have the same sense of humor, and are willing to sound a little bit silly while you're playing this game it is awesome. You can really develop some awesome intertwining stories until hearing what happens next is almost as good as winning the game. Or you can play with someone that doesn't share that enjoyment and tries to eliminate their characters as quickly as possible without really telling a story beyond what the card says. I've played both ways and the former is much more enjoyable.I would definitely recommend this game either way. I'm looking forward to picking up the expansions in the future and think this will be a staple on certain game nights.

I bought this as the Rona crisis started, knowing my husband and I would welcome cheap entertainment while abiding our stay at home order. Wasn't sure what to expect in terms of how the cards worked based on instructions and reviews, but when we got it we were super impressed by the concept. The printing on the otherwise clear cards could be a little bit more crisp and vibrant for readability, but it's totally readable as-is (just make sure you're in a well lit area. The first time we played we realized our table space was not lit well enough and we ended up pulling lamps closer to make it work. We have since rearranged our living space for better lighting). We read through the rules once initially and then had to stop and check to figure out what to do several times on the first play. So it took a bit longer than usual. But after that first game we totally got the hang of it and it has been easy and fun for just the two of us to play. Set up is minimal. We think it'd be equally fun with 3-4 players. You can play up to 4 players with this deck. With the expansion packs, you can add more players. Though, we feel 4 should be the max. Any more than that and it seems like it might drag on. Just our opinion. We will get expansion packs just to have some fresh characters. But we really like this game, and I've already recommended it to several friends. Kudos to the inventor!

UPDATE: Changed from 1 star to 5.Emailed manufacturer of my issue on Friday 10/13/2017Received manufacturer response Monday 10/16/2017Well this is my public fumble. Usually, the back of a playing card is a full pattern. When I looked at the cards (the image I provided), I never thought to turn them over, because I saw the individual designs and assumed that was card face. The manufacturer got back to me quickly and said they believed I was looking at the back. They also said if not the case, they would replace. They were correct and the art and text I saw are for the back of the card, not the front.. Makes sense though, since much of the card is clear. It's a lot of fun when your group gets into telling a little story for each card.(Initial review)I just received this October 10th 2017. This is the exact item I ordered, as it is confirmed with a message when I go to this page. The box comes with two decks. The instructions show I should have cards with family members and cards that modify. I received neither. I have two card types. I have "Rest in peace," at the top (all have a crow on a skull as center art and various combinations of solid black dots on the sides), or are non-titled with solid black dots on the sides. There is no central art on the second type of any cards. There is no art within what should be circles, (not solid black dots.) on any card in the deck.

I bought this as a gift for my game obsessed husband. It’s a unique and fun game that we’ve enjoyed. The clear cards are different than anything I’ve seen and create an interesting experience with layering.Best enjoyed with 4-5 players, but we’ve played with 3 and had fun.

I love this game. I will immediately admit that my original reason for buying it was that my girlfriend has a goth aesthetic, so I felt it would be a game we could enjoy together. Well, let me tell you, goth or not, if you are a gamer with even a slight hint of a macabre sense of humor--for instance, if you enjoy the Addams Family movies--the innovative game design, ease of play, and generally wacky fun of the game are enough on their own to make this an extremely worthwhile purchase. I know for a fact that I am going to be looking to get the expansions for this game. Everyone i have introduced the game to has really enjoyed it.