- BGG rating
- 7.5
Shadowrift: Archfiends
- 1–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,854
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Shadowrift
2012
Rules assistance for Shadowrift
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 45–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Shadowrift
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shadowrift is a board game released in 2012 for 1–6 players, 45–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jeremy Anderson and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Track Movement, and Cooperative Game.
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About the game
Haven Town is facing total annihilation at the hands (and teeth) of a horde of monsters from beyond the Shadowrift. You, the heroes, must band together to drive them back. To do this, you will need powerful spells, skills, attacks and loot. When the game begins, you are a basic hero; you can explore and fight. Luckily for you, Shadowrift is a deck-building game! You can buy new cards to add to your deck, cards that will define you as an adventurer and complement the strengths of your fellow heroes. Unlike other deck-builders, there is constant interaction with your fellow players as you figure out who will gain which benefit from the limited supply of townsfolk, offer their coin to help construct walls, and seek healing from anyone who's learned such magic. Shadowrift also features monsters that don't merely sit waiting to be slain; if you leave them alone, they will rip Haven Town asunder. They'll kill people, break walls, and kick your heroes in the face. Combat with them is intuitive (though frequently painful). For defeating a monster, heroes gain Heroism, a simple, consistent boost to their power that makes them better at anything they undertake. Since the monsters won't stop coming until the last Shadowrift is sealed or the town has been built into a mighty fortress, you'll need every boost you can take. The second edition of Shadowrift features many improved mechanisms, including a revised system for how monsters choose who to attack (based on types of villagers, instead of specific people) and a new system for monster powers (making them much more dangerous). It also has a revised card layout and a great deal of new and improved artwork.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Tycoon Games
- Game Salute
- Game Night Productions
Questions and answers
Shadowrift supports 1–6 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 Shadowrift is 45–120 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 Shadowrift 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.
Shadowrift has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Shadowrift belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Track Movement, and Cooperative Game. 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 Shadowrift are: Jeremy Anderson. 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 Shadowrift 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.