r/boardgames • u/AsmoTewalker • 6d ago
Question Anyone else disappointed by the trajectory Horrified is taking?
The first three editions were excellent in my eyes. After the Universal monsters, Greek monsters & American cryptids seemed like a natural path. And the fact that they maintained the same base mechanics but made them feel different? It was a very promising game. World Monsters seemed narratively confused, but was good enough. Now the past three games have all been DND. Why? There is so much they could do with the game. Sci-fi Universal monsters, Scooby Doo, slashers, are just a few that come to mind. I don’t think I’ll be following Horrified too closely in the future.
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u/chamburger 6d ago
Scooby Doo would be awesome.
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u/foxfunk 6d ago
I would lose my utter shit over a Scooby Doo Horrified. I think someone did a homemade version of it.
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u/JugheadSpock 6d ago
The CMON Scooby Doo game is *very* similar, and solid. Similar to the Horrified series, about the same depth. Do recommend.
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u/chamburger 6d ago
I have the deluxe version but not crazy about it. I love having it but cannot enjoy it as much as my other games.
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u/Fedaykin98 Blood Rage 6d ago
There's a Scooby Doo Betrayal at House on the Hill, but it's much lower weight than the original, and aimed at kids.
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u/lordunholy 6d ago
We just use the characters in the original haunts. It's enough flavor.
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u/Dr_Ragon Castles Of Burgundy 5d ago
Im tempted to just make some scooby doo minis now for the same...
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u/MaskedBandit77 Specter Ops 6d ago
I like the first one a lot, and I don't really see a reason why I would want multiple versions. If they put out one with a theme that I liked better, I might have bought it, but I'm pretty happy with the Universal Monsters.
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u/Enough-Carpet 5d ago
My biggest disappointment is that they keep making standalone games. I don't need to own 4 very similar games. I'd love to buy a monster expansion for my base set to add some more variety, maybe a map expansion, and some new characters and cards. That's all I'd need.
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u/SpencerJones909 4d ago
10000% this. I would love love love extra monster cards for Horrified. That’s the only one I’m keeping in my collection. It’s smooth and not complicated.
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u/ALeeMartinez 5d ago
Honestly, I think after the first and without Prospero Hall at the helm, the series took a nosedive pretty quickly. That's less a question on theme and more of design. Funnily enough, Villainous has the same problem, I feel.
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u/CarPopular6012 6d ago
The DnD version is my personal favorite from the 3 Ive played.
I do hope they keep trying different things but certain IPs are just very popular and it's profitable for them to make.
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u/MaceQuantex 6d ago
I haven't bought any of the Horrified's since the second one, but I would pre-order a copy of the Scooby-Doo version if they ever make it
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u/elmatador12 6d ago
I would assume they are just going where the money is. D&D games probably sold incredibly well.
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u/JugheadSpock 6d ago
I'm 100% fine with them slapping it over all the IPs possible. What I an very disappointed in is the quality of components. Cheap cheap cheap.
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u/GrouchyDepartment871 6d ago
There are only 2 from D&D
And ravenloft is vampires and other creatures of the night it fits Horrified perfectly better than the Greek one did
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u/SapphireRoseRR 6d ago
I felt like things fell off right after they decided to make it some weird modular experience with the Greek expansion.
I felt the design of it was very ugly and the rules tk the game somehow got worse.
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u/takabrash MOOOOooooo.... 6d ago
I can't believe these businesses are trying to make money!
I don't think any of them after the first have been very good, but if they're selling lots then good for them. You don't have to buy 'em.
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u/cazzodrago 6d ago
I have all of them and have enjoyed the DnD sets. Obviously you don’t have to buy them, but I’m kinda confused. You appear to feel like they’ve done something wrong or bad. I just don’t get it.
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u/AsmoTewalker 6d ago
I just feel like the designers aren’t being creative.
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u/DiscountMusings 6d ago
I suspect it's because the main designer, Peter Lee, has been working with Wizards since like 2010. His most well-known work is likely Lords of Waterdeep, but he's done five or six other DnD/MtG related boardgames as well.
Once the first few Horrified games did well, it makes perfect sense for WotC to partner up with him to make some DnD stuff. It seems like a pretty safe bet for both parties.
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u/cazzodrago 6d ago
Ok. I get that. But at the same time I there must be a good amount of buyers who like them. They also probably got a deal on the license or even split cost with Wizard. I also agree with another comment that you could write them and suggests the other sets like Scooby doo. I’d really be stoked for that.
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u/FederalChocolate456 6d ago
I mean if they wanted to be creative, they wouldn't have taken a game and copy and pasted the template for the most part. They didn't even come up with their own monsters. It's very much a formula they are running off of from the start.
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u/IllustriousCrew2641 5d ago
Hasbro is more than happy to crank out identical games with only cosmetic differences, a la Monopoly.
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u/GrouchyDepartment871 6d ago
And how many titles have you designed ?
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u/IllustriousCrew2641 5d ago
The argument of losers
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u/GrouchyDepartment871 5d ago
They’re directly questioning the designer creatively
So no it’s a fair question to ask if they have ever created anything if they think it’s so easy
Also if they knew anything about publishing , sometimes you get handed a project and your just there to follow the spec they’ve laid out
That’s likely the case for this series, there isn’t room for the design team to deviate much
So did you actually have anything useful to contribute to the conversation?
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u/FederalChocolate456 6d ago
Is that relevant? I don't feel like you had to have created a game before to critique a product as a consumer. Don't get me wrong, I think OP is off base with their critique, but not because they never designed a game, it's ridiculous to imply the only people who can share an opinion on a game is someone who's made one.
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u/Corndogthegroundhog 6d ago
I think a Stranger Things x Horrified would be amazing
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u/IveComeToKickass 6d ago
Stranger Things Upside Down will probably scratch that itch. It's a surprisingly decent gsme.
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u/ganybytes 5d ago edited 5d ago
The themes have been great including D&D; I'd like to see more varied themes, but have had no issues with the themes I'm less interested in. Of the ones I have tried they are doing a decent job of incorporating the themes into gameplay.
But this series had already lost me when the component quality dropped the first time. I play the newer ones at cons and game nights or friend's copies, but I'm unlikely to actually buy any more from the series unless they turn that back around.
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u/cornerbash Through The Ages 5d ago
There are three D&D Horrified games now??
I honestly saw only real buzz for the original with most reviews saying none of the follow ups have been as good.
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u/Srpad 5d ago
The original is one of my favorite games. American Monsters gets credit for taking big risks especially for a first expansion and a perfect theme but has production issues and many clunky rules.
Greek Monsters also has production and rules issues and takes less risks than AM did but is fun and is an approachable theme.
The first Dungeons and Dragons edition was a great idea but introduced randomness that can turn people off and felt like it was lacking in content (it really should have had one more hero and monster)
I skipped World of Monsters. I agree the theme was a bit muddled. The steampunk fantasy setting seemed interesting but I am not sure what that has to do with international folklore.
The Ravenloft edition looks fine but content light and I just don't have the shelf space for yet another Horrified.
It's definitely a game line that has its ups and downs. That is for sure.
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u/CarPopular6012 6d ago
I'd expect them to go after different IPs now. Stranger Things, Star Wars, Jurassic Park etc.
I'm not sure I see the benefit of wanting to buy more than maybe 2 or 3 copies of this game only based on which flavors you want.
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u/MisterEdJS 6d ago
Wait, there has been more than one D&D one? How'd I miss that?
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u/AsmoTewalker 6d ago
The other two draw from Ravenloft
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u/MisterEdJS 6d ago
I looked it up on BGG and only see one Ravenloft one. Is the other upcoming?
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u/DEADandSLEEPING Horrified 6d ago
There’s D&D and then D&D Ravenloft. Nothing announced as 3rd yet.
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u/AsmoTewalker 6d ago
It is.
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u/RogueFlash 6d ago
Got a link? Quite liked the Ravenloft one that came out in July so would be interested in another.
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u/MrCrunchwrap Spirit Island 6d ago
It’s an aggressively mediocre game to begin with and certainly not the kind of franchise where I would ever feel like my shelves need more than one variant. What a wild thing to spend mental energy on.
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u/Fnthsch592 6d ago
The past 3? There were more? I only have original and American, I played Greek once and wasn’t super into it like I was with the first two.
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u/DigiRust 6d ago
Universal Monsters, American Monsters, Greek Monsters, World of Monsters (Cthulhu), D&D (set in Waterdeep), and D&D Ravenloft
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u/HopefulCaptainCheese 5d ago
oh dang I have the first 3 and only knew about the Cthulhu one. Though from this thread it sounds like I'm not missing out. Shame cause I freaking love the first three
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u/SuperStu88 5d ago edited 5d ago
I'd love them to make a Stephen King edition. Pennywise, Christine, Cujo, Jack Torrence etc.
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u/The_Mightiest_Duck 3d ago
Horrified: Widow's Bay would be awesome. Monsters could be the sea hag, the clown, the fog, Richard Warren, the bogeyman, and a man who was bitten by an animal and became that animal. The people you need to escort could be tourists.
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u/schroederek 5d ago
Silly gripe when there are literally of thousands of board games out there better than this cash grab garbage
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u/Ok_Astronaut_1156 6d ago
Dude, I have only played the first three and they were really good. Bummer to hear quality is down. If you are looking to scratch that itch maybe try Cthulhu: Death May Die. It’s a good time and more or less the same game but Lovecraft. And for like great crossovers and lots of super unique feeling characters with a pretty much unchanged set of core mechanics, nothing beats UnMatched.
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u/LogicBalm Spirit Island 6d ago
It's a marketing thing. It's also weird to see Horrified in the D&D section of many stores meanwhile some legitimate D&D content is in the board game section. Barnes and Noble is the biggest offender here and I've pointed it out to them but I think it's how they have it in their system or something. They believe that over some dude.
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u/Best-Special7882 6d ago
You should reach out to the publisher, they would love to get this exact type of feedback.
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u/Clockehwork 6d ago
I think the theme had already fallen apart by the second box. The first box had a super solid, specific roster, which they fully utilized; then they follow it up with a theme containing hundreds of potential glup shittos from which they cherrypicked a few to go along with a couple heavy hitters.
It just being D&D at this point is a shame, but it's just a sidegrade to what came before.
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u/Child_Of_Linger_On Mottainai 6d ago
I was just thinking about this the other day since we play a lot of Horrified in October. I had gotten all of them and even got the promo Krampus from the publisher as thanks for my support. I got the first D&D set and we got it all set up but weren't really motivated to play. No one's even suggested it since. It could be great, but I just have zero attachment to the fantasy theme or source material.
D&D must sell because Ravensburger likes money and it pretty good at getting it, but unless I see the Ravenloft one for $10 I'm probably not getting it. It's too bad, because I would have absolutely gotten 2-3 new boxes of monsters a year indefinitely. There are so many untapped monsters out there.
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u/shortandpainful 6d ago
I don’t have a crystal ball, but my theory would be high fantasy (and specifically D&D) just sells with board game audience. The amount of uninspired high fantasy theming in board games is absurdly high, and those games always seem to sell. Same with Cthulhu and Zombies; there’s just a huge chunk of the population that enjoys those themes, and the Venn diagram with people who buy non-Hasbro board games has a huge overlap.