
- BGG rating
- 6.1
When Darkness Comes: Hell Unleashed
- 1–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2002

2002
Rules assistance for When Darkness Comes
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
When Darkness Comes is a board game released in 2002 for 1–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Todd Breitenstein and Kerry Breitenstein and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Tile Placement, and Role Playing.
When Darkness Comes is a tile-based board game that combines roleplaying with boardgaming. The first core set, called The Awakening, deals with the undead (zombies, mummies, vampires, etc). The objective of the game will depend on the scenario. Some may include finding and defeating a big bad guy, finding a certain object, defusing a bomb, etc. The characters (pre-generated or created) have 7 attributes with specialized skills. That will determine the amount of dice rolled for a skill check. The mechanic for skill checks is a poker variation instead of using straight high roll. Players try to get 6 high, one pair, 3 straight, 3 of a kind, 4 straight, etc. Expansions When Darkness Comes: The Horror Within (2002) When Darkness Comes: Hell Unleashed (2002) When Darkness Comes: The Darkness Before the Dawn (2003) When Darkness Comes: The Most Dangerous Game (2003) When Darkness Comes: This Is Not Happening (2004) When Darkness Comes: The Nameless Mist (2005)
When Darkness Comes 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 When Darkness Comes is 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 When Darkness Comes for ages 10 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.
When Darkness Comes has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
When Darkness Comes belongs to these categories: Dice, Horror, and Zombies. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Tile Placement, and Role Playing. 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 When Darkness Comes are: Todd Breitenstein and Kerry Breitenstein. 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 When Darkness Comes 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.