Wow, they really knocked it out of the park with this one. The original Betrayal is one of my favorite games of all time - like many others, it was my “gateway drug” that got me into strategy board games. Sure, it had its problems (balance issues mainly) but it was always a fun time, so when I heard there was this legacy version coming out I pre-ordered it as soon as I could.
After having played it a few times (the prologue and a couple of chapters) I’m glad to say it lives up to the hype. For those of you that didn’t play the original, the rules are simple. You and your friends explore a house which is made up of several tiles. Since these tiles are modular, the house you explore is different every game. As you explore, you’ll find items, run into traps, and trigger “omens” (events). Eventually you’ll activate a haunt that enables a horror scenario that has its own set of rules, most of which turn a player into a traitor that will try to kill you. Some of the scenarios in the original game involves aliens, a house that slowly imploded into the abyss, a musical pied piper that would hypnotize the players, killers that keep resurrecting, etc. It was amazing with its variety and scope and was extremely replayable... no two games were ever alike.
This new version takes that basic concept and expands on it. Basically, there’s now an overarching story spanning decades. You have to play the game a total of 14 times to complete the story - think of it like a TV season, and each game you play is a new episode. Each game has actions that will affect future games, so play wisely.
I can’t go into it more without spoiling it, so I won’t delve too much into the specifics of the mechanics of the legacy aspect of this game. I have played through several other legacy style games (Risk and Pandemic) and I’m happy to say that this game actually utilizes the legacy components the best out of those in my opinion. Risk and Pandemic’s legacy games were good, but they were a slow burn that took time to build. This is where Bettayal’s strength lies - with Risk Legacy, even though the rules are changing with each game, it still felt like a progressively harder version of Risk. Betrayal’s huge scope of variety and rules keep this game fresh, and it’s intriguing to see how this family storyline will play out in the end. The replayability is helping cut down on fatigue, and because of that I know my friends and I will finish this way quicker than Risk. And, when all is said and done and you’ve completed the core Legacy storyline, the game will be set up to be played over and over again with the unique changes you’ve made through the campaign.
Now for critiques. I mentioned earlier that the original Betrayal game had its share of problems. Unfortunately, a lot of them are still there, mainly the balance issue and confusion over rules. It can scare away new players with the amount of rules - there are THREE rule books to reference, and those rules were often vague and led to a lot of debates on interpreting what the author meant. Some of the haunts also greatly favor the traitor or humans and can feel unfair too.
Also, they really should’ve added a giant piece of paper that says to not punch out stuff. Everyone’s first instinct with board games is to punch out all the pieces. The game actually requires you to leave them punched in and to wait until the proper time to use them. Also, this is more of an Amazon problem, but the box I received was really beat up during shipping.
Overall - excellent game. Worth trying for anyone vaguely interested in these types of board games, and definitely worth trying for fans of the original. Highly recommended.
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From the manufacturer
The history you tell is one you create.
Journey back to the beginning of the horror as you create a unique story told through several generations of families obsessed with the house. Your actions will reveal the terrifying origin of this iconic homestead and uncover its darkest secrets as you and your fellow explorers follow a dizzying path of madness to the very root of evil.
A Game Informer “Best Tabletop Games of 2018” Selection
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Every house has a story. This one is yours.Based on the award-winning Betrayal at House on the Hill, Betrayal Legacy is a unique experience offering you the chance to create the iconic house’s story through decisions and actions taken in the game. Will you survive the horrifying truth or become just another ghastly corpse in the house on the hill’s history? |
Journey back to the beginning of the horror.With its history shrouded by wild-eyed ravings and the scrawling of madmen, it was thought that no one would ever know the unholy origin of the house on the hill. Until now. Legacy campaign chapters span from 1666 to 2004, with players taking on the role of a family member across many generations to shape the unique origins of your House on the Hill. |
Endless replayability of your own unique board game.Once the legacy campaign is complete, you’ll be left with a fully re-playable, customized board game, completely shaped by the choices you made along the way. Like the classic, your customized version offers a completely different game each time you play, including brand new haunts which are unique to post-campaign play. |
“This is a great update to a classic game, one that adds new flavor and balance without taking away what made the original Betrayal at House on the Hill so unique” —ComicBook.com
“It’s the perfect haunted house board game, and one full of secrets I can’t wait to find.” —IGN
“Betrayal Legacy is a gaming experience I will never forget.”—Bob Fekete, Newsweek
Reviews with images
Amazing!!!!!!!
This game is so amazing. I was inspired by Smosh from YouTube to purchase this game. This was the best choice I made. Love this game can't wait to play.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2018
Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Kathleen
Es tan bueno que quisiera que mis amigos vinieran todos los días a mi casa para poder jugarlo.
Reviewed in Mexico on August 31, 2020Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Kathleen
Reviewed in Mexico on August 31, 2020
Images in this review
Steven Soch
So then we told her she had to rip up the card
Reviewed in Canada on December 21, 2019Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Van Dycke
Très bon jeu
Reviewed in France on April 19, 2020Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Hedgewitch King
A Wonderful Experience
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2019Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Chi
Geniales Spiel für Spielegruppen
Reviewed in Germany on January 18, 2019Style: LegacyPattern Name: SingleVerified Purchase
