Game On! Deliverance Review

Deliverance

Angelic Clash of Good Vs. Evil.

Publisher: Lowen Games

Year Published: 2023

BGG Page: Deliverance

Downloads: Christmas 2023 Scenario Pack

Last Updated: January 21st, 2024

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Game Overview

Deliverance is a fast-paced, modern dungeon crawler where you and your fellow players take on the roles of angels sent to save a cozy town from encroaching darkness. Demons lurk across a series of tiles looking for saints to influence. Your mission is to defeat the demons and deliver the saints and the small town of Fallbrook.

The box comes with skirmish, campaign and dedicated solo game modes. The solo mode offers the option of using a non playable character (The Intercessor), who empowers the lone wolf angel! And there are free scenario packs Lowen provides which makes for a nice hybrid between the skirmish and campaign experiences.

I am a fan of this game. You can see that the folks at Lowen have literally put their heart-and-soul into this production. That said, below is an unbiased review with some aspects that could be improved upon. I hope you enjoy it!

*This Board Game Review is Based on Deliverance Deluxe Edition w/Metal Coins

Adaptability

The game has been designed to facilitate player ramp-up in terms of the number of rules. The first few missions of the campaign limit the rules and phases played. For a dungeon crawler, the game strikes a strong balance between adaptability and cognitive engagement. Playing a skirmish for your first game is not recommended.

Gradually, you will be introduced to the darkness system which adds another evil dynamic you must manage appropriately.

Engagement

The game is not as complex as larger dungeon crawlers tend to be. This makes accessibility better, but at a bit of a cost to engagement for seasoned gamers. Overall, there are many strategies to be learned and implemented. You will quickly see how focusing on combat (which is fun!), is not always the best strategy. Managing the darkness and delivering the saints tends to yield better long-term results.

Also worth mentioning is the cool upgrade track for your angels found in the campaign mode. Angel skill cards have levels, and you will decide between upgrading existing skills (to a higher level) or adding a second skill (at a lower initial level).

Human Connection

The social aspects of this game are strong as well. It is a cooperative game, and you can leverage your awesome angel powers to assist other players. There are strategies to be had in terms of multiplayer dynamics as well. Notably is that a given angel can revive a fallen one. Theme integration is solid across the player interactions. The game is also good for older children and their parents playing together, keeping both age groups engaged.

Immersive Experience

The theme speaks directly to both good and evil aspects of modern-day life. The component quality and artwork provide a visually compelling narrative you find yourself thrown into. Like many players, I generally do not complete entire campaigns due to the time commitment. However, in this case, I likely will be completing the entire campaign, including the legacy content. Also worth mentioning are the nine angels you get to choose from. And it ships with five levels of difficulty for each one-shot skirmish. Campaign missions have an optional challenge condition to gain more experience points. There is also a cool replay mechanic, for the campaign specifically, whereby you get to draw an extra prayer card when playing a prior failed mission.

If there is one aspect of immersion missing here it is that of expansions. Formal expansions typically ship new characters, boards and components. While not a requirement for shipping a great game (which this is!), they do add another degree of immersion and replayability. However, replayability remains quite high here thanks to both a skirmish mode and the free scenario packs Lowen is providing.

What I Liked

  • Amazing Artwork & Components

  • Built-In Storage Tray

  • Campaign Story is Engaging & Fits the Theme

  • Campaign Character Upgrade System

  • Have it Your Way!!

    • Campaign, Skirmish & Scenario Packs.

    • 1-4 Players, Solo Specific Mode of Play

  • Theme Integration is Fantastic

What I Disliked

  • Cardboard Demons Out-of-Box via Deluxe Edition

  • Lack of Initial Expansions

  • Token Quantity & Movement for Light(er) Dungeon Crawl

*It's worth mentioning that Lowen provides a few things that help with the above issues: Acrylic Demons are an optional buy, there are free scenario packs for download, and a few damage dials do ship to help with the damage token constant movement aspect

Who Should Buy Deliverance

This is a game designed for folks wanting an upgraded dungeon crawler. I have played five total sessions, one skirmish and four campaign missions. It is a solid choice for the right buyer persona. It’s obviously a more complex game than most, however in terms of dungeon crawlers it’s a light(er) fare. For all these reasons, the perfect audience is seasoned tabletop gamers or less experienced casual crawlers seeking a modern and upgraded experience, without all the complexity.

In terms of age, the game nails it in my opinion at fourteen years of age or older. The monsters are clearly designed to accommodate a wide age range. Please note there are a few sections of content in the campaign booklet that may not be suitable for younger audiences.

The game also makes a great gift for Christians who would enjoy a modern board game that is influenced by scripture. Everyone can enjoy this game thanks to its lighter design. And for these reasons, it is an excellent gateway game into the dungeon crawl genre as well.

House Rules & Mods

  • Blessed - Starting Skirmish Games w/Heavenly Treasure

  • Level Up - Modify Angel Base Attributes

  • Proceed With Caution - Solo Mode Without Intercessor

  • The End First - Skirmish Games Using the Legacy Content

Deliverance Strategy

  • Choose Wisely - For Skirmish(s), Choose All Angels Best for that Mission. For campaign mode, select a good balance between supporting and fighting angels.

  • Healing Radius Talent Cards - With these Talents In-Hand, Move in Numbers.

  • Keep One Angel Healthy - Once All Angels are Reviving, Game is Over.

  • One Eye on Darkness - Manage Darkness & Deliver Saints (As Opposed to Always Battling).

Deliverance Ratings

  • Adaptability: 8.5

    • Includes Complexity, Difficulty & Learning

  • Engagement: 9

    • Includes Mechanics, Strategy & Theme

  • Human Connection: 8

    • Includes Family Fun, Player Interaction & Theme

  • Immersive Experience: 8.5

    • Includes Artwork, Components, Replayability & Theme

  • Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10

*For a review of the rating system please see here

Deliverance Closing Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed our first board game review with Deliverance. Deliverance is an excellent game, lots of design work went into solo play, and replay is quite high. If Lowen continues to provide download content or formal expansions, this could be an enjoyable multi-year journey for the dungeon crawl fan.

Until Next Time, Enjoy the Tabletop.

Deliverance Box Art

The Amazing Deliverance Box Art

Angel Miniatures

Optional Angel Miniatures

Metal Coins

Optional Metal Coins

Instruction Booklet

Instruction Booklet

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