- BGG rank
- BGG #5,379
- BGG rating
- 7.9
HeroQuest: First Light
- 2–5 players
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Rules assistance for HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- 14+
Rules assistant for HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel is an expansion for HeroQuest released in 2021 for 2–5 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Doug Hopkins and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #4
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Gloomhaven
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,171
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Bardsung
- 1–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,560
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron
- 1–6 players
- 45–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #234
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- 1–5 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,294
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Talisman: The Magical Quest Game – 5th Edition
- 2–6 players
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,279
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Core Space
- 1–6 players
- 45–180 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #606
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,154
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Stars of Akarios
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,304
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Core Space: First Born
- 1–6 players
- 45–180 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #88
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
- 2–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #635
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Betrayal Legacy
- 3–5 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
About the game
Today we have for you a wonderful gift – a free quest map for your adventure-hungry heroes crafted by our very own Doug Hopkins, designer on the HeroQuest Game System. This quest map will allow you to expand the HeroQuest experience while adding a few wrinkles that all you Zargons out there might enjoy. We asked Doug about his inspiration for this map, and here is what he had to say: “We wanted to provide an opportunity for experienced heroes (who completed the core system quest book) to connect to our Kellar’s Keep quest pack. Allowing them to tell the story of their journey to the Great Gate seemed like it could be a lot of fun. If our heroes want to pass through the World’s End Mountains they will need to enter the Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel in this dangerous quest. Are you up to the challenge? The quest is calling!” That means this mission is intended to be played after the core quest book. The heroes have braved Mentor’s various tasks and have been awarded the title of “Champion” by the King, but new dangers have emerged! Mentor has informed the heroes that the King and what remains of his army have been trapped in the ancient dwarven stronghold of Kaba Karn, under siege by Zargon’s forces. Time is of the essence if the heroes hope to save the King, and the only available entrance into Kaba Karn is the Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel. If the heroes are brave enough to face this challenge and are successful, then the story may naturally progress into the quests provided in the Kellar’s Keep expansion! But keep in mind this is no easy feat, as the dark tunnels hold many Dread secrets. —description from the publisher's website
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hasbro
- Avalon Hill
Questions and answers
HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel 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 HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel is 60–90 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 HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel 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.
HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel are: Doug Hopkins. 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 HeroQuest: Forsaken Tunnels of Xor-Xel as an expansion for HeroQuest. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need HeroQuest to use it. Check that your edition of HeroQuest is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.