89

Kingdom Death: Monster is a fully cooperative tabletop horror game set in a unique nightmarish world. Players control survivors who must hunt monsters and build settlements while managing resources and crafting gear from defeated creatures. The game features intense boss battles and settlement management phases across campaign years.

89

The Verdict

based on 18 reviews

Positive 0%
Deep campaign system with branching story events and high replay value.
Unique monster AI decks that create varied and challenging encounters.
Premium component quality, detailed miniatures, and stunning dark fantasy artwork.
Rewarding crafting system and strategic decision-making in settlement management.
Strong sense of consequence for player decisions due to frequent character death.
Very high retail price is a significant barrier to entry for many players.
Steep learning curve and complex rules that require a significant time commitment to master.
Graphic content, mature themes, and frequent character deaths may not appeal to all players.
Heavy reliance on randomness can lead to frustrating and unfair outcomes.
100
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
TechRaptor, Travis WilliamsArticle

This review praises Kingdom Death: Monster as an unparalleled classic, highlighting its stunning miniatures, compelling emergent narrative, and brutal, yet rewarding survival gameplay. Its deep mechanics foster emotional investment and learning through failure, making it a top-tier favorite.

96
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Topping the Table, Jamie HopkinsArticle

This review hails Kingdom Death: Monster as a highly acclaimed and essential game, praising its captivating strategic gameplay with deep character development and lasting consequences. It particularly extols the breathtaking artwork, stunning miniatures, and immersive atmospheric design, which contribute to a rich and enthralling narrative experience.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Fuzzy Llama Reviews, Fuzzy Llama ReviewsArticle

The reviewer enthusiastically praises Kingdom Death: Monster as a deep, enthralling, and addictive game, highlighting its incredible miniatures and high-quality boards as well worth the substantial cost and assembly effort. While noting minor flaws with card quality and token storage, the overall experience is highly recommended.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Polygon, Charlie HallArticle

Polygon considers "Kingdom Death: Monster" a masterful and challenging board game, describing it as the "Everest of board games," despite some of its grotesque and explicit imagery potentially diverting attention from the gameplay.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Co-op Board Games, Ronny AlexanderArticle

A deeply challenging and rewarding campaign game, Kingdom Death: Monster offers unparalleled scope, premium components, and thematic commitment, best for dedicated groups willing to brave its high price and steep learning curve.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
SideGame LLC, MackenzieArticleTop List

This video from SideGame LLC presents a ranked list of the top board games released in 2015. 'Kingdom Death: Monster' is highlighted as the second-best game, with the host discussing its campaign-style gameplay, gigantic miniatures, and boss-battling mechanics.

See list
90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Ars Technica, Sam MachkovechArticle

Kingdom Death: Monster is an incredibly brutal, expensive, and complex co-op game that demands significant time and commitment. Despite its high barrier to entry and punishing difficulty, the reviewer finds it to be a deeply rewarding and immersive adventure for players who enjoy masochistic challenges and intricate, intertwined systems.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Behind the Box, Behind the BoxVideo

This video from Behind the Box offers a detailed review of the physical board game Kingdom Death: Monster. It explores the game's mechanics, theme, and overall player experience to help viewers understand its appeal and determine if it's suitable for them.

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Meeple Mountain, Clayton SchoonoverArticle

The reviewer enthusiastically loves Kingdom Death: Monster, praising its unique blend of genres, tactical combat, and strategic depth. They highlight its stunning, mature production and extreme difficulty, recommending it for fans of From Software games and dark themes.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Not Bored Gaming, MarkVideo

The reviewer highly praises Kingdom Death: Monster for its deep immersion and abundant content, acknowledging that it is a beast of a game that earns its place at the top of many players' lists, despite its high cost, mature themes, and demanding bookkeeping.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Always Board Never Boring, Kev (Always Board Never Boring)Video

The reviewer shares their mixed feelings about Kingdom Death: Monster, highlighting its mature themes and impressive production quality, despite not having fully completed the campaign. The video presentation uses footage of the first edition components alongside the 1.5 upgrade pack to accompany an edited version of a previous blog review.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
There Will Be Games, FrankArticle

The reviewer describes Kingdom Death: Monster as a uniquely challenging and bizarre blend of board game, RPG, and video game elements. They highlight its extensive components, brutal difficulty, and story-rich emergent gameplay through its three-phase campaign structure, ultimately finding it a compelling and epic, if overwhelming, experience.

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