Game On! Scooby-Doo! The Board Game Review
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Publisher: CMON
Year Published: 2022
BGG Page: Scooby-Doo! The Board Game
Downloads: Achievements Leaflet
Last Updated: February 6th, 2024
Where to Buy
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Game Overview
Scooby-Doo! The Board Game is a modern pickup-and-deliver game system based upon the popular and classic Scooby Doo cartoon. Players move their favorite Mystery, Inc. team member around the very cool game board collecting artifacts to build traps. In addition, there are Scooby cards to be managed (so they do not run out!), monster tokens to clean up after and scared visitors to return.
The rules for Scooby-Doo! The Board Game are fairly light and this makes the game applicable across a broad age range of players. Like most games designed for larger group of players, this comes at a cost of less engagement for more experienced players. The game features both cooperative and solo game modes which makes its replayability better for folks that enjoy both solo and cooperative sessions (such as myself).
Adaptability
Light(er) rules system makes the game fairly easy to pick up and play. Adjustable difficulty system is great. Learning the rules system is easy enough and there is no need to gently teach players the rule set.
Engagement
Theme integration is great in this title, which applies to human connection and immersive experience as well as engagement. However, the pickup-and-deliver core mechanic of the game is great for family game nights and OK for the solo sessions. There is simply not enough engagement and mixture of mechanics for this title to be a repeated solo adventure and that is not it’s design either.
Human Connection
This is a second strong category for Scooby-Doo! The Board game. Players can interact and plan their strategies together, while working together to manage all aspects of the game. Family fun is high here as well!
Immersive Experience
Artwork, components and theme integration are all strong in this category. Replayability is low and you can divide replay out into family replay and solo replayability as well. For family night replay, its higher for sure. The solo mode is an extra bit of value at the end of the day.
What I Like
Amazing Artwork
Adjustable Difficulty
Broad Age Group Applicability & Rules System
Strong Theme Integration
What I Disliked
Simple Game System & Mechanics
Minimal Character Differentiation
Lots of Token Movement
Who Should Buy Scooby-Doo! The Board Game
Scooby-Doo! The Board game is a great family game by CMON. I am a fan of CMON, but, admittedly, most of CMON’s titles are for experienced gamers. Scooby-Doo! The Board Game is a different market for CMON. This is casual family game fun at its finest. Bringing CMON’s high quality products to a casual and broadly applicable age range with the Scooby-Doo theme.
House Rules & Mods
Scooby Snacks!! - Characters can use their unique ability each-and-every turn. This makes the game easier, but it also makes the characters feel more unique.
Scooby-Doo! The Board Game Strategy
Choose Wisely - Selecting character combinations based upon the selected monster.
Divide-and-Conquer - One player takes care of building traps and managing the Scooby cards. Another player helps with trap building and also manages the monster tokens as well as the visitors that get scared away.
Ratings
Adaptability: 9
Includes Complexity, Difficulty & Learning
Engagement: 5
Includes Mechanics, Strategy & Theme
Human Connection: 8
Includes Family Fun, Player Interaction & Theme
Immersive Experience: 7
Includes Artwork, Components, Replayability & Theme
Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10
*For a review of the rating system please see here
Scooby-Doo! The Board Game Closing Thoughts
This is a great family title by CMON. Just keep in mind that for the experienced gamer this title is only going to provide so much for you. Can you break it out on a Saturday morning and enjoy it solo? Yes, you can. Are you going to enjoy it after the second Saturday playing it solo as an experienced gamer? No, no you are not. If you have kids (which I do) or having parties at your house often, it's a fantastic title.
Until Next Time, Enjoy the Tabletop.