- BGG rating
- 7.7
Dark Domains: Elemental Arcana Fortune Cards
- 2–5 players
- 120 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,851
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Dark Domains
2019
Rules assistance for Dark Domains
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Dark Domains
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dark Domains is a board game released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jeff Horger, Carla Horger, William Baldwin (I), and Joseph Roush and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Worker Placement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Dark Domains: 2020 Lab Rat Gift Cards
- 2–5 players
- 90–150 min
- 2021
Dark Domains: Lotus District
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 2024
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About the game
In Dark Domains each player takes on the role of a city leader attempting to expand the frontier of Harrows into the hinterland. Unbeknownst to the powers in Harrows some of those leaders, namely the players, are secretly evil to the core and in the thrall of the Necromancer. Once away from the bustling city and the oversight of the courts, these overlords create domains that outwardly appear to be beacons of light and hope. Eventually however, their true colors will come through and those upstanding pillars of the community will retreat to their lairs as the masquerade ends and their lands begin to decay into wastelands overrun by foul monsters and nefarious henchmen. But all is not peaches and cream in the lands of darkness. Harrows is home to the famous Torin Company and its never-ending supply of heroes and adventurers. Once the word reaches Harrows that darkness is afoot in the Domains, it is only a matter of time before these nosy adventurers begin to seek out the dens of horror to stop the evil. Dark Domains is a worker placement game where 2-5 players attempt to create a Domain that provides them the most evil, depicted in the game by skulls. Players must use Minions, Henchmen, Monsters & Magic to stamp out the good, repel the Torin Company and cover their land in darkness. Tarot cards are used in the game as events to live up each turn and to regulate the phases of the game.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Mr. B Games
- Laboratory H
Questions and answers
Dark Domains supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Dark Domains is 120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Dark Domains for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Dark Domains has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Dark Domains belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Worker Placement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Dark Domains are: Jeff Horger, Carla Horger, William Baldwin (I), and Joseph Roush. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Dark Domains as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.