As a tabletop writer, I have to admit that miniature games are a bit of a blind spot. That’s why I wasn’t surprised then Maladum: Dungeons of Enveronthe next big thing in miniature gaming, seemingly came out of nowhere. Suddenly Youtuber tabletop reviewers Peachy tips to Polygon contributor Charlie Theel were singing Maladum‘s praise, the first being the ‘the ideal form of a dungeon crawler”. With two new expansions recently announced, it seemed like the perfect time to find out what this game is.
As Theel wrote in his “Best Games of the Year So Far” collection: Maladum is a fantasy adaptation of Core spacea 2019 cyberpunk dungeon crawler from Battle Systems that garnered some praise for its intricate tactile elements and tension-filled gameplay. That original system was updated with a fantasy veneer for last year’s release Maladumin what Theel described as “one of the most inspiring and creative dungeon crawlers to hit the market in the last decade.” Tabletop gamers seemed to agree Maladum2023 Kickstarter raised and paid out nearly $1 million to donors earlier this year.
So, what is dungeon crawling? It’s a playing style that comes from old-fashioned RPGs D&Dwhere the goal is to explore the depths of, you guessed it, a dungeon. Whatever form they take, dungeon crawlers ask players to solve puzzles, battle monsters in tactical battles, and search for treasure, completing heroic missions along the way. What makes Maladum distinctive from games in its class, such as Hero quest or Origin is the unconventional method of tackling these genre staples. “Unlike most dungeon crawlers, the game mimics the structure of extraction shooters like Call of Duty’s DMZ mode or Escape from Tarkov,” Theel wrote in his Player Elimination review. “Your primary goal is to get in and out.”
Maladum is played through a series of scenarios, each with its own objectives, such as rescue missions or monster control. The game’s Doom mechanic evolves as a session progresses, increasing the difficulty of your escape as you progress into the dungeon as more monsters populate. Although it is set up for multiplayer, Maladum can be played solo and provides the framework for an ongoing campaign where players can keep the same characters and lose the loot they earned the previous session.
This game doesn’t ask you to delve deep into the dungeon for an indefinite amount of time, although given the quality of the game’s material, you might want to spend hours in the real world going over every detail. In Peachy Tip’s unboxing video, he highlighted the intuitive design of the miniatures and 3D dungeon settings. The detail of these cardboard cutouts and the many intricate parts of this dungeon would be the envy of any tabletop gamer, although the patience, organization and dexterity required to put it all together reminded me why my games tend to have to live in the theater of the mind. .
Two weeks ago, Battle Systems announced two on its YouTube channel Maladum extensions: Beasts of Enveron And Of beer and adventure. Published in November Beasts adds some biodiversity to the dungeons, in addition to nine additional event cards and one hidden location. Of beer and adventure will be released in December and is a bit more comprehensive, with its own rulebook, printed terrain components, and additional NPCs, side missions, and loot for players to interact with during ongoing campaigns.
Both Beasts of Enveron And Of beer and adventure are currently available for pre-order.