AllPlay Torchlit

Every adventurer dreams of delving into a monster-packed dungeon and returning home laden with gold. But choosing the right dungeon is half the battle - some are barely worth the torchlight, while others are already swarming with rivals ready to split the spoils. And lurking behind it all is the fickle Dungeon Warden, forever tugging at the strings of fate.

Torchlit is a trick-taking game with a clever twist on the familiar formula. Rather than simply racing to win the most tricks, you need to match a hidden bid - and the real tension comes from deciding when to push forward and when to manipulate the dungeon in your favour. Whoever plays the lowest card each trick becomes the Dungeon Warden, seeding cards into the dungeon's chambers and shaping the rewards that await everyone there. Win too many tricks and you may overshoot your target; too few and you walk away empty-handed.

Points are also shared - if two players end a round in the same dungeon, they divide the gold between them. Reading your opponents and nudging them off their own bids is just as valuable as hitting yours.

After three rounds, the adventurer with the most gold wins.

Production leans into the theme, with a foil box cover and foil cards making this one of the better-looking card games on the table at this price point. Rules are easy enough to learn in minutes, but the decisions stay interesting throughout.

At a glance:

• Players: 2–5
• Age: 10+
• Play time: 30–45 minutes
• Publisher: Allplay
• Designer: David Spalinski