Game On! Doomlings the Card Game Review
Cute. Easy to Learn. And Strategic.
Publisher: Doomlings, LLC
Year Published: 2022
BGG Page: Doomlings
Online Companion Tools: Score Calculator & Card Compendium
Last Updated: June 16th, 2024
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Game Overview
The Doomlings team sent me a free review copy of their base game (classic edition). Thanks to the Doomlings team for the copy. Let’s move on with the review!
In Doomlings, two to six players compete in a family fun card game. Players play trait cards until a catastrophe card is drawn from the corresponding age pile. There are three age piles created during game setup, each with a catastrophe card. Once the last catastrophe card has been drawn the world ends and players tally up their points via the trait cards played. The game also features a unique dynamic max hand size game mechanic via its “Gene Pool”.
Doomlings has a fun theme with the doomlings themselves and they are featured on the trait cards, categorized by card color. The game is rated for players age eight and older. The game has a tableau building aspect where cards can benefits other cards and ultimetly increase you chances of winning the game.
Adaptability
The game is very easy to learn which makes this an excellent family TCG title. And I enjoy that the game features tableau building aspects for more seasoned gamers. Once you play a few sessions you can quickly see the diverse range of trait card playing strategies that are available.
Engagement
The theme is perfect for a family title. The mechanics are good and have been designed with a family audience in mind. For seasoned tabletop gamers like myself, keep in mind this is a family title (not expressly designed for you!).
Human Connection
Doomlings scores well in this category. It has a great theme for its intended audience and player interaction is quite high given the diverse effects that occur on the trait cards when played.
Immersive Experience
The artwork is good and fun. Replayability is going to vary based upon the gaming preferences of your particular family. If everyone in the house enjoys competitive tableau building card games, its a perfect title. Yet again, I will say Doomlings is striking a tough balance between advanced card games and family fun applicability. Not an easy feat to accomplish in a single title.
What I Like
Artwork
Broad Age Group Applicability, Everyone in the Family Can Play!
Expansions Available & Collectible Cards
Super Easy Rules System
Tableau & TCG Fun for the Whole Family
What I Disliked
Limited Fun for Experienced Tabletop Gamers (Tableau Mechanic & Strategy Helps!!)
Trading Card Games (TCGs) Can Be Expensive…if you want all the stuff!!
Who Should Buy
Tableau and card game fans that want a title that extends to the whole family! Tableau card game fans will enjoy that this title has been designed for the whole family, which means more time on the tabletop NOT playing in solo mode! Doomlings is a great title that has been stretched to apply to large spans of player ages leveraging a fun-and-simple rules system.
Strategy
Don’t Play Colorblind! - One of the first tableau building strategies you will find is picking specific trait card colors to build upon one another.
Ratings
Adaptability: 8
Includes Complexity, Difficulty & Learning
Engagement: 6
Includes Mechanics, Strategy & Theme
Human Connection: 8
Includes Family Fun, Player Interaction & Theme
Immersive Experience: 5
Includes Artwork, Components, Replayability & Theme
Overall Rating: 6.75 out of 10
For a review of our rating system please see here
Doomlings Closing Thoughts
I really enjoyed this game and appreciate the Doomlings team sending me a free copy for review. While not a great title for the seasoned tabletop gamer, Doomlings is an excellent game for tableau building and TCG game fans looking for family themes. The Doomlings team have introduced a unique title and IP that combines tableau-building, TCG and family fun.
Until Next Time, Enjoy the Tabletop!!
