Thunderstone Quest review - box feature

Thunderstone Quest Review, Strategy Tips & FAQ

Play Time: 60-90 Min / Players: 2-4 / Complexity: Medium / Age: 14+ we think 10+ / Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) / Designer: Mike Elliot

Thunderstone Quest Ratings and Summary

BoardgamingParent.com

Teen Rating
Parent Rating

Summary

Teen rating from our son (13).

Teen view: “Enjoyable game, the way you can use experience to either level up your heroes or use as points is really interesting.”
Parent view: “Great game with plenty of variation to keep it interesting, really like the tension between village and dungeon turns.”

4

Pros

  • Lots of replay value
  • Fantastic components
  • Interesting tension between village and dungeon locations
  • Use of light to travel through the dungeon is well implemented
  • Great card synergies.

Cons

  • Not really a lot of player interaction. At times it can feel a little like multiplayer solitaire.

What You Will Find in Our Thunderstone Quest Review


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Thunderstone Quest is a competitive deck building game designed by Mike Elliot published by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). My son and I are huge fans of deck building games so we were keen to give this fantasy adventure themed game a try. The unique combination of dungeon crawling and deck building, appealed to us and we were hoping it would be a unique and fun addition to our collection of great deck building games.

We first got a taste of the Thunderstone series by trying out Thunderstone Advance a few years ago. We thought it had potential but there were a few things that really frustrated us. It was a pain collecting monsters in your deck once they were defeated, it kind of felt like it undid all your hard work building an effective deck. We also didn’t really like the way the monsters appeared in the dungeon, there was only one deck and so the difficulty between monsters in each part of the three dungeon levels was quite random. Thunderstone Quest promised a more polished version of the game, with multiple improvements, was it enough though?

Overview: Lead your band of heroes through dungeons. Collect the most points to win Thunderstone Quest

In Thunderstone Quest you play the role of a mighty champion recruiting heroes to your band, casting spells and using powerful weapons to battle monsters through a dark dungeon. Light is your friend here and lets you delve further into the dungeon to fight more powerful foes and earn more tasty rewards. Your goal is to rack up the most points by the end of the game to win. Setting up requires you to:

Thunderstone Quest - Box and Set Up
Thunderstone Quest set up and ready for play.
  • Select your champion figurine, set up your player board and starting deck
  • Set up the village which will require you to select contain weapons, spells, items, heroes and tokens
  • Select your guardian, monsters and dungeon tiles to set up the dungeon.

Each turn consists of either visiting the village or venturing into the dungeon to battle monsters for rewards. If you choose to go to the dungeon you will move through the dungeon to a specific location provided you have sufficient light generated through your cards. You then battle the monster in that particular dungeon tile, collect any associated rewards and suffer wounds as applicable. The more wounds you suffer the less cards you are able to draw at the end of your turn, which acts to limit the amount of turns you can spend in the dungeon.

Thunderstone Quest - marketplace set up and cards
The market place set up with weapons, spells and items.

If you instead choose to visit the village you will reveal your cards and total any gold you have in your hand. You will then choose a village location to visit, each enabling additional activities to be performed. Regardless of the village location you will always be able to heal one wound, spend experience points to upgrade one hero and purchase one card from the marketplace. You will be able to perform additional actions dependant on the village location you are in. The locations include:

  • The Temple – Enables you to heal an extra wound
  • The Bazaar – Enables you to purchase gear tokens that you can use to aid you later to improve your health, grant extra light or extra gold
  • Shop of Arcane Wonders – Allows you to purchase a random treasure card and receive the associated reward
  • The Guilds Quarter – Enables you to level up two heroes instead of one in your turn.

The end game is triggered as players defeat monsters and discover guardian keys. After four guardian keys the players have one final round to collect as many points as possible. This is also the only turn where you have the opportunity to battle the mighty Thunderstone Guardian which can yield a good points haul if you succeed.

There are multiple quests included in the quest book, each with three adventures, which progressively introduce new packs of cards to explore. There are also some interesting side quests which can spice things up a bit once you are ready to try something new. If that wasn’t enough there is a concept of guild sponsorships which provide bonuses which favour certain hero types.

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Gameplay: Thunderstone Quest is a satisfying mix of dungeon crawling and deck building, with high replay value

Before I get into the detail here about how the game plays, I think it’s important to recognise that Thunderstone Quest encourages players to experiment and tailor the game to their tastes. In fact, they include a number of variations in the rule book. They are also very clear upfront that they want you to play this game your way. I think this is really refreshing and I love the fact that they are essentially encouraging you to make the game your own.

Thunderstone Quest - hero cards three levels
Heroes have three levels and can be upgraded.

This fantasy themed deck builder has a lot going on between the village, dungeon and the very generous array of cards you have access to for set up. Before we played our first game, we felt a little overwhelmed. I have to say though that after our first game it all just made sense, the rules are well laid out and there are good prompts on the board. One thing to note is that there are numerous quests that come in the quest book that do a very good job of introducing you to all the cards. They are well put together and they highlight some good card synergies which are generally very easy to identify.

Playing the game itself is very satisfying. It always felt like we had meaningful options each turn given the variety of areas in the village and the dungeon. There is a nice tension when battling in the dungeon between staying as long as you can to earn experience and risking wounds which will increasingly limit your hand. This leads to some great choices and strategies, ‘do I continue to slay monsters and pull ahead on points or do I rest in the village to heal and improve my overall deck?’. This becomes more tense when you realise that as you’re resting in the village other players may be pulling ahead on points battling monsters in the dungeon.

Thunderstone Quest - dungeon and cards
The Thunderstone Quest dungeon requires light to travel through it.

The game length feels about right and doesn’t feel like it overstays its welcome. Most games we have played I have felt just a little disappointed that the last guardian key was revealed triggering the end game. You get this feeling that it would be great to get just one more turn to upgrade your deck, or slay another monster.

There is fantastic replay value out of the box. We have had this game for over a year and I don’t feel the need to get expansions yet at all. Between the very generous array of heroes, monsters, weapons, items and equipment you feel like there are so many options to vary the game. In addition, there are rule variations, the addition of quests which give you specific in game objectives and guilds sponsorships. Guild sponsorships grant specific benefits to a player depending on their chosen guild (there are four different guild sponsorships available).

One thing I find is a little lacking however is player interaction. Sure, there are moments where you may purchase the last upgraded hero that another player was after or obtain the last weapon card someone else was eying up but that’s really about it. Largely it feels like you and your band of heroes are on your own quest. You just happen to see a competing band of heroes in the village or dungeon once in a while. To be clear this is a minor gripe, but worth noting.

Components: Great components and wonderfully functional inserts

I am not sure what to say about the components other than wow! Ok that’s not very helpful, let me elaborate a bit. The game comes with:

  • 12 different hero decks
  • 8 different spell decks
  • 7 different item decks
  • 9 different weapon decks
  • 12 different monster decks
  • 2 different guardians, each with three levels of difficulty
  • 12 unique dungeon tiles
  • Starting deck cards, wounds, tokens and six hero figurines

All of this comes in a well laid out box which has plenty of space for expansion content. I have purchased plenty of games, where I feel as though the only thing the box insert is good for is throwing out, so the fact that the storage for this game is functional is great.

Thunderstone Quest - champion figures and dice
Thunderstone Quest comes with six champion figures to choose from.

The cards themselves are very well illustrated and clearly lay out key information and effects. We were very impressed with the dividers in particular. If we compare it to a game like Marvel Legendary which doesn’t do a great job of providing useful dividers, this is a far better approach.

The board is clear, with useful prompts throughout to remind you of rules specific for each area. Likewise, the dungeon tiles and player boards make good use of icons and instructions to let you know what you need at a glance. Well done AEG the components here are great.

Theme: Thunderstone Quest doesn’t really feel like a quest but the theme is well implemented and enjoyable

Some people may feel a bit short changed by the term ‘quest’ in the title of this game. Let me explain, while there are quests in the quest book, they don’t really feel like quests where your band completes specific objectives. Each game kind of feels like it has the same objective, to earn the most points in order to win the game. For me this isn’t an issue and doesn’t detract from the fun of the game at all.

Other than the point above, I think the game does a good job of making it feel like you are leading an ever-improving band of heroes through their battles in the dungeon and ultimately to a final showdown with the Guardian. The art work, tiles and board layout all do a good job of differentiating spaces so it feels like you are travelling to different areas in the board. The use of light to enable delving deeper into the dungeon is also a really nice touch.

Final Thoughts: Wonderful replay value and solid combination of deck building with dungeon crawling. Thunderstone Quest earns its spot on our shelf

By now you know that I really like this game. The combination of dungeon crawling and deck building leads to some interesting choices and a real sense of adventuring with a band of ever improving heroes at your side. The game does a great job of creating tension between dungeon crawling to earn experience and loot, versus visiting the village to improve and upgrade your band. All in all this we enjoyed this game so much that it made it to our best deck building games list.

Is Thunderstone Quest easy to learn? The game has some complexity to it given the range of options and locations available to the player. I would say this game is moderately complex. I think a 14+ age bracket is a bit high though. My son started playing at 12 and had no problems.

What will Thunderstone Quest teach my kids?The deck building elements are useful for building skill sets around planning ahead and finding synergies. If you have a child that struggles with losing this game may be a good option. The advantage here is that often you are not quite sure who is ahead until the final points tally. There may be some disappointment in the end but we have found it doesn’t detract from actually enjoying the game itself.

What age is appropriate for Thunderstone Quest? Although this game can seem daunting at first with so many options on the board, it is actually very straight forward once you play a few rounds. I think most kids from 10 and up should be fine with it.

Does Thunderstone Quest have good replay value? Replay value here is very high. After owning this game for over a year and having played through the available quests I still don’t feel the need for any expansion content.

We hope you enjoyed our Thunderstone Quest review. If you have any more questions or just want to share your thoughts on this game please leave a comment below, or get in touch through our contact page.

About the Authors

We are parents who love board gaming. We have three children and have been enjoying board games as a family ever since we had our first child. We share our real unbiased experiences and opinions on board games so you can decide if they are right for your family. We also write guides and articles to help you get the most out of your family game time. If you enjoy our content and want to support us you can do that through our Ko-fi page by clicking on the button below.

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Other Games to Consider

If you are looking in to Thunderstone Quest you may be interested in some other options for good deck building games. Here are some others worth considering:

  • Fort (Review)If you are after a competitive deck building game like Thunderstone Quest then Fort is worth looking into. Instead of the fantasy them of Thunderstone Quest, Fort is a kid themed deck builder that lets you relive your youth a little on your table top. During the game you will recruit kids to bolster your deck, earn pizza and toys and level up your fort. The deck building in this game doesn’t have as much depth as some other deck builders, but it’s a lot of fun and the theme is incorporated incredibly well into the game. Unlike Thunderstone Quest there’s also a lot of interaction because all players are able to follow public actions on cards played and steel cards from their opponent’s yard. My oldest daughter just loves this game due to the theme and humour on the cards.
  • Star Realms: Like Thunderstone Quest, Star Realms is a competitive deck builder but it can only accommodate 2 players with the base game. If you like a space themed game Star Realms could be for you, this game is very easy to learn but is so much fun. The four different factions on offer provide different card synergies and benefits. Your aim is to deplete your opponent’s authority to 0 through successful attacks. Unlike Thunderstone Quest there is direct conflict here and consequently lots of interaction.
  • Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game (Review): If you are after something cooperative that still allows you to claim bragging rights Marvel Legendary may be for you. This is a Marvel themed semi-cooperative deck builder that is very easy to learn. Like Thunderstone Quest each game will feel unique and interesting due to the many combinations of heroes, masterminds, villains and schemes on offer. The base game is a little on the easy side but there are many fantastic expansions on offer that add some great challenge.
  • Aeons End (Review): Unlike Thunderstone Quest, Aeon’s End is a cooperative deck building game where you work together as a team of mages to defend humanity’s last city – Gravehold from a Nemesis and their minions. Aeon’s End has a fantasy them like Thunderstone Quest but a lot more player interaction as player’s work together to defeat the Nemesis. This game is very challenging and has a lot of depth to it. A fantastic cooperative deck builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Thunderstone Quest and Thunderstone Advance?

While a lot of the core gameplay is similar between Thunderstone Quest and Thunderstone Advance there are important differences. The key differences include:

  • The board in Thunderstone Quest includes different spaces for each area in the village which you can visit. Thunderstone Advance doesn’t have this concept, instead the board mainly serves to provide spaces cards
  • The dungeon in Thunderstone Quest has 7 different tiles which can be travelled through provided players have enough light. In Thunderstone Advance this concept isn’t the same and players simply have three different monsters to fight representing three levels of light requirement
  • The monster decks in Thunderstone Quest are different for each level in the dungeon, with the hardest monsters appearing in level three. In Thunderstone Advance there is only one monster deck which is used for all three monster spaces
  • In Thunderstone Quest you can remain in the dungeon tile you ended your turn in for the following turn. In Thunderstone Advance this concept doesn’t exist and you must begin from the start each turn when battling monsters
  • In Thunderstone Quest defeated monsters provide rewards and the dungeon tiles also provide rewards, however defeated monsters do not end up in your deck. In Thunderstone Advance there is no concept of dungeon tiles and defeated monsters end up in your deck.

Can you play Thunderstone Quest solo?

The base game cannot be played solo. To play Thunderstone Quest solo you must also purchase the Barricades mode expansion.

Can you play Thunderstone Quest cooperatively?

The base game cannot be played cooperatively. To play Thunderstone Quest cooperatively you must also purchase the Barricades mode expansion.

What is the best player count for Thunderstone Quest?

In our view 2 players is the best player count for Thunderstone Quest. This is mainly to minimise down time. The game itself does not have a lot of player interaction and so a high player count tends to add more down time without really increasing interaction.

Are expansions required to enjoy Thunderstone Quest?

We think Thunderstone Quest base game offers great value on it’s own. There is a lot of variety that comes with the base game to keep you occupied for a long time. The expansions tend to offer more cards but not significant game play changes, Barricades mode is the exception to this. Barricades mode offers solo and cooperative play which the base game does not offer.

Strategy Tips

If you do end up playing Thunderstone Quest, here are some tips that helped us and we hope they help you too:

  • Balance your deck! You can buy weapon, item, spells and hero cards. If your deck isn’t well balanced it’s going to cause you issues. Too many weapons and you won’t have enough heroes to wield them, too many heroes and you will miss out on possible bonuses. We have found a 50/50 split between heroes and other card types seems to work well
  • Plan ahead: Before you start buying cards, look at the available heroes, items and spells. Figure out which cards will synergise well together and target those cards. Remember to spread your buying between heroes and other cards so you don’t run into issues later (see the point above)
  • Stop upgrading near the end game: Once the third key is discovered the end game isn’t far. Remember any unused experience points will count towards your final score. At this point it’s probably not worth using these for upgrades as you won’t get as much value out of the cards
  • Keep your deck trim: The golden rule in deck building games is to make sure your deck doesn’t get bloated. Buy what you need but keep your deck trim and get rid of starting cards when it makes sense. A lean deck will cycle your good cards through faster than a bloated deck
  • Don’t be too cautious: When I first started playing Thunderstone Quest, I would leave the dungeon too early after only a few wounds. Provided you have some healing ability don’t be too cautious. Remember battling and defeating monsters gains you experience and loot!
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