By: Plaid Hat Games Players: 2-4 Ages: 8+ Time: 60-90 minutes
Deep in the dark of night, the evil Lord of Nightmares threatens a young girl. Sworn to protect her, a group of stuffies are drawn into an otherworldly realm to fight for her love and explore the many milestones of a child’s life.
Explore a world of wonder and danger as players take on the role of one of six stuffed friends.
Players will make unique discoveries and battle intimidating enemies as they work their way through a literal storybook to stop the master of nightmares, creating a memorable tale ideal for families and groups of adults who cherish their childlike sense of wonder.
About Stuffed Fables Board Game – An Unusual Adventure Game
Stuffed Fables Board Game is an adventure game where players take on the roles of brave stuffies seeking to save the child they love from a scheming, evil mastermind. The game’s thrilling narrative is driven by the choices that players make as they navigate their way through a series of adventures. Each chapter of the game explores the many milestones of the stuffie owner’s life, creating a memorable tale for players of all ages to play through and explore.
Stuffed Fables is classified as an ‘Adventure Book Game’, with all the action taking place in a literal storybook, containing colorful maps and illustrations. This acts as a rules reference, story guide, and game board all in one. Each adventure takes place over several pages and the choices that players make affect the flow of the story.
How To Play Stuffed Fables Board Game
When setting up a game, each player chooses a stuffy character and picks its matching figure along with five stuffing tokens, which serve as the character’s health. Each stuffy comes with its own set of skills that are unique to it and may uncover items throughout the game that will give them additional benefits. All attribute dice are then placed in the die bag and the various decks of cards are shuffled and placed face down to create several decks (items, lost cards, minion cards, sleep, and status cards). A story is then chosen from the storybook and it is strongly recommended to play them in order.
Each page in the book will provide instructions on how to set up the story. There are various icons that represent where players and minions start the game, points of interest, and where players can and cannot traverse across the page. There will also be text to read out for each adventure that helps to set the scene, as if it were a real storybook, and help players understand their objectives.
During a player’s turn, there are several steps they will take:
They start withdrawing five dice from the dice bag and placing them in front of them. The colors of the dice drawn determine the types of actions and options available to the player. There are seven different colored dice and each of these allows players to do various different things. If a white dice is produced, players can use this to find stuffing and replenish any health that’s been lost previously. Players can take as many actions as they wish on their turn as long as they have enough dice for that particular action. Dice vary from allowing players to perform melee or ranged attacks, search the area, move, or even store a dice, to be passed to another player later in order to recover any lost stuffing. For example, green dice specifically enable ranged attacks. There will also be skill tests that players need to make individually or as a group periodically, which will also rely on having the correct color dice. Sometimes these are storybook-specific but will also come up from status, environment, and lost cards being drawn.
On a minion’s turn they will be able to take certain actions also:
Minions are activated one at a time in an order specific to the scenario. Any black dice that were previously drawn from the dice bag can be used and the number rolled will determine the minion’s action. Each minion card (like the ones above) will show what each minion is able to do based on the result of the dice. These actions will consist of moving and attacking but will also give instructions on how the minions should behave and any special effects that are activated.
Whenever a player defeats a minion, that stuffy gains a button. The game will direct players on when these can be spent and the options available. Players will also periodically gain hearts, which can be spent to perform an ability on the stuffy’s card. Some abilities do not require hearts but all kinds of abilities can be activated at any time.
If all stuffies have collapsed the players lose, but if they are able to complete the story’s objectives then they are successful and will be able to move on to the next part of the story.
Whilst the game’s rules are not as extensive as some out there, there are quite a few to cover but the above is a general overview. Players will make their way through a series of stories, each connected and forming an overarching story, each with their own set of win conditions and special rules. Players will be able to collect various items and make significant decisions at certain points throughout the game which will affect the flow of the remaining missions, which in turn adds an element of replayability to the game. Between the rule and Storybook, players are both guided with how each story should play out and where everything should be placed, but also given flexibility with what actions they can take on their turn. Dice pending. This means that not only is the game more accessible than some similar games for younger players, but it also provides a fun experience that offers a blend of action and RPG-style gameplay for people of all ages.
Oh Brother Expansion
The “Oh Brother” expansion for Stuffed Fables adds a new dimension of adventure and excitement to the base game. In this expansion, players are introduced to new stuffies, each equipped with unique abilities and backstories that enrich the game’s lore. The “Oh Brother” expansion follows the same beloved mechanics of the original game but introduces fresh challenges, daring melee attacks, and story elements that expand the Stuffed Fables universe.
In addition to new characters, “Oh Brother” brings in new storybook chapters, each filled with vibrant illustrations and captivating narratives. These new chapters explore deeper themes, introduce more complex scenarios, and unlock curious discoveries, forcing players to adapt and strategize in novel ways. The expansion also includes additional dice, cards, and tokens to seamlessly integrate with the core game, allowing for a smooth transition between the base game and the expansion content.
For fans of Stuffed Fables, the “Oh Brother” expansion promises new adventures, greater depth, and enhanced replayability. It provides an opportunity to explore the game world further, uncover new secrets, and face off against even more formidable foes. Whether playing with the family or with friends, this expansion enriches the Stuffed Fables experience, making it a must-have addition for any fan of the game.
Summary
Well-made components
Charming artwork
Engaging gameplay
Interesting mechanics
Great for all ages
Thrilling narrative
Story book
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Final Verdict: A Thrilling Narrative Driven Experience
Stuffed Fables is a game bursting with charm and brimming with great artwork that sets the scene perfectly. It takes familiar rules and concepts from similar games but adds its own twist to create something unique. The narrative explores the many milestones of a child’s life, making it a memorable tale ideal for families and groups of adults with a childlike sense of wonder. It comes with the advantage of a theme that appeals to a younger audience and although the rules won’t take just five minutes to learn, it is much more accessible than other games that share the same genre. Not only that but combining the campaign aspect with a literal storybook where the game plays out is not only genius but will keep players coming back for each session in this unusual adventure game.
While this game can work for many different age groups, we specifically recommend this game on our list of the best games for 7 year olds, so check that out if you are looking for more games at this level.
If You Liked This:
If you enjoyed playing through the story in Stuffed Fables, below are some similar games that should provide a similar experience:
Mice and Mystics: Working their way through the castle sewers, players must stop the kingdom from being overtaken by an evil sorceress. The only catch, everyone has been turned into mice! Fight cockroaches and spiders across an epic tail spanning thirteen missions in a storybook-like adventure.
Heroquest: One of the original RPG-like adventure games, combining elements from Dungeons and Dragons into a more accessible board game for casual gamers. A high fantasy game where players explore various dungeons uncovering items, monsters, traps, and more.
Star Wars Imperial Assault: Battling the Galactic Federation, players take on the role of iconic Star Wars protagonists and work their way through various missions. Play takes place over a variety of tiles and relies on strategic combat and tactics in order to complete each scenario’s objectives.
Oathsworn: is a game where play is focused on narrative choices and rich miniature combat encounters. The game is set in the Deepwood where a Free company (the Oathsworn) fights for humanity’s survival against unnatural horrors and the Deepwood itself. The multi-path game book adds a great level of replayability.
Descent: Journeys In The Dark: one player takes on the role of the treacherous overlord, and up to four other players take on the role of courageous heroes. During each game, the heroes embark on quests and venture into dangerous caves, ancient ruins, dark dungeons, and cursed forests to battle monsters, earn riches, and attempt to stop the overlord from carrying out his vile plot.
Stuffed Fables Board Game, much like Toy Story, captures the imagination with its narrative appeal. In this game, players take on the role of stuffed toys trying to protect and save a little girl from evil creatures and nightmares. The narrative focuses on the trials and tribulations of the little girl and the stuffed animals who quest at night to keep her happy, facing challenges and potential consequences such as waking her up from a nightmare.
FAQ and Rules Reference
1. How many players can play Stuffed Fables?
Stuffed Fables is designed for 2 to 4 players. However, it can also be played solo by controlling multiple stuffies.
2. What is the recommended age for Stuffed Fables?
The game is recommended for ages 7 and up, making it suitable for both younger players and adults.
3. How long does a game session usually last?
Each session of Stuffed Fables typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the story and players’ familiarity with the rules.
4. Can the game be replayed after completing all stories?
Yes, Stuffed Fables has replay value. Players can make different choices in the stories or try different strategies in combat, leading to varied experiences each time they play.
5. Are there any expansions available for Stuffed Fables?
As of now, there are no official expansions available for Stuffed Fables. However, players can keep an eye on the publisher’s announcements for any future updates.
6. Do you need to read the entire rulebook before starting the game?
While it’s beneficial to read through the rulebook, Stuffed Fables includes a Storybook that serves as a rules reference, guiding players through the rules as they play, making it easier to learn and jump into the game.
7. What kind of dice are used in Stuffed Fables?
The game uses custom six-sided dice in various colors, each representing different types of actions and checks. These dice add an element of chance and strategy to gameplay.
8. Is there a cooperative element in Stuffed Fables?
Yes, Stuffed Fables is a cooperative game where players work together to achieve story objectives and defeat minions. Coordination and teamwork are key to success.
9. How do players recover lost stuffing?
Players can recover lost stuffing by using specific actions, gaining hearts, or using certain items that allow for healing during the game.
10. Can Stuffed Fables be played with just two players?
Absolutely! The game scales well with two players, and the cooperative nature ensures that it remains engaging and challenging regardless of the number of players.