Deliverance Board Game Review

Written by Charlie Theel

Religious Board Game?

There tends to be a stigma against Christian-themed board games, as just like Christian music, these titles often present the game and its systems as subservient to religious messaging. This is not the case with Deliverance, a bespoke skirmish/dungeon crawl hybrid that features sleek and thoughtful tactical gameplay. It certainly respectfully embodies its religious subtext, but the experience is mechanically gripping and the two pieces complement each other wonderfully.

What is Deliverance the Board Game?

The setting here is intriguing. Players work together, adopting the roles of known angels such Michael and Gabriel. They combat many different types of demonic foes and ultimately confront menacing bosses. Illustrated beautifully on the many tiles, the battlefield is a modern day fictional town where the souls of the innocent are at stake. It’s a heroic game, one grounded in the faith of Christianity.

There are two ways to engage this game. The first is the free-wheeling skirmish mode. Here, players engage in a one-off session where they increase in potency over time, levelling up enough to eventually take on a final boss in the finale. The second format is a full-blown campaign with 14 interesting scenarios with various goals and considerations. In this mode, characters gain new abilities over the long-haul, tracking their powers and unlocks on a campaign sheet. The campaign structure itself is somewhat limiting, as it’s linear and does not allow you to progress upon failure. This is somewhat standard for the genre, but some of the more inventive dungeon crawlers of recent years have provided more inventive options, so it’s somewhat disappointing to see this more restricted approach.

Ultimately, both formats are satisfying and given equal attention from the ruleset. As a pair of options, the amount of content is actually pretty exhaustive as this large box is packed with hours and hours of gameplay.

The core system itself is an action point affair where players take turns triggering abilities on their character sheets. Each angel is quite unique, boasting their own allotment of detailed actions and abilities. They lean into specific playstyles and switching up the party between plays really alters the feel of the game.

Your demonic adversaries are likewise varied. They activate off die rolls which trigger alternate abilities from a wider menu. This provides an element of unpredictability that adds a compelling angle to combat. Of more significance is the row of Darkness cards that sit off to the side and threaten to boost the foe’s effectiveness or trigger unexpected effects. These appear regularly each turn as a tailored event system that is central to the game’s flow. This must be battled just like a physical foe on the board, although here, angels oppose the darkness through prayer actions. There is a constant struggle in holding back the metaphysical as well as the materialised enemies before you.

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Is Deliverance the Board Game good?

Deliverance is an interesting game in that it’s more focused on systems and resources than it is on story. It’s very much of the same ilk as the venerated Gloomhaven, offering a very thoughtful tactical experience that is mechanically compelling. The payout is magnificent as the varied situations provide for an ever-evolving battlefield that is continually challenging. This is one of the best miniatures skirmish/dungeon crawlers in recent years, and a bonafide release that reaches beyond its subject matter.

Should you play Deliverance?

Yes

Whether you are enamoured with Deliverance’s religious setting or not, this is a striking hybrid of miniatures skirmish game and dungeon crawler. Its systems are grand, and the overall experience is memorable.

Try this if you liked… Gloomhaven

Deliverance takes a more thoughtful approach to bashing skulls, similar to the Euro-style crawler Gloomhaven. While the core systems are not similar, the philosophy of tactical play is operating in similar territory, as both emphasise tactical trade offs and nuanced conflict.

Designer: Andrew Lowen

Publisher: Lowen Games

Time: 60-120 minutes

Players: 1-2

Ages: 14+

Price: £79

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