This article originally appeared in the Meeples Together blog.
Our Meeples Together model for cooperative games broadly divides their design up into three major parts: cooperative elements, challenge elements and (sometimes) adventure-game elements. These mechanical elements can also be used in other sorts of games. In particular, challenge systems can appear in fully competitive games, making them more unpredictable and also creating the possibility of survival-focused gameplay, where all of the players can lose to the game system.
This month, at Meeples Together, we’ll be exploring two challenge systems that Martin Wallace designed to add survival concerns to otherwise competitive games: The Witches (2013) and AuZtralia (2018). (The second will be along in two weeks.)
The Witches by Martin Wallace
Publisher: Mayfair Games (2013)
Cooperative Style: Survival-Focused Cooperation
Play Style: Adventure Game, Card Management
Overview
In The Witches, players take on the roles of trainee witches, who are sent to the country of Lancre to solve problems. Whoever solves the most and most difficult problems wins — but if too many crises stack up, or if too many elves appear, then everyone can lose. Continue reading