Game Overview - Welcome to the Dungeon

Welcome to the Dungeon (2013 by IELLO Games, 2-4 players 10+, 30 minute playtime) was one of the first games we added to the collection when we started getting into board games. I had never played a game with a push your luck mechanic and so Jeremy picked this up before a trip to the mountains.

The concept is simple: You have the choice to send a monster to the dungeon for someone to fight later or dispose of one of the assets the hero controls. Each player takes turns drawing a monster from the deck and deciding if it goes to the dungeon or not.

Essentially, you can play aggressively and stack the dungeon with the worst of the worst monsters and take the best equipment away hoping your opponent goes into the dungeon, or you can play cooperatively competitively and set whoever goes into the dungeon to fight up for success. Jeremy plays closer to the cooperative competitive side, and I always push my luck to the furthest extent possible. It just so happens I usually end up in the dungeon and get my butt kicked.

Game play happens in rounds and the first one to win 2 rounds wins… unless someone loses two games first. Side note: I really like the little poke yoke that comes with the monster reference card. Everyone starts on white, if you lose a round you flip your card to red. Also, when you win, you get a scroll card, doubling the ease of visually managing your game.

The classes are pretty rad and the equipment each carries is creative and unique. Your choices to fight their way through a dungeon: Barbarian, Rogue, Warrior or Mage. Shoutout to the female Rogue! You love to see it!

There is a reason why this game ends up on our table time and time again. It is small enough to keep in your bag and play in a restaurant or on an airplane tray table.