Villainous is a story based game that allows you to play as one of the famous Disney villains to complete a character – specific challenge to win the game. It is Disney’s answer to a more adult-oriented board game for their longstanding fans. In a way you are playing against yourself as much as you are playing against opponents. The starter version of the game can be played with 2-4 players but there are multiple expansions that have come out over the years that allow for many more players to participate.
To set up the game, players choose a villain and find their associated story board, card decks, villain guide, and miniature. Players can play cards each turn from their villain deck while opponents play from their fate deck in order to challenge each other or prevent actions from taking place.
With each players turn, they have a chance to receive power, place an ally, battle a hero, pick a card from an opponent’s fate deck, or move cards around. The first player to fulfill their villain’s goal is the winner.
I really enjoyed this game. I played through with one other person which was great for the first time. I only had to focus on two strategies, thought I think that it would be very fun to play with more people because it would add more variety. The game had a lot of replay-ability, as you can choose to play as a variety of characters who all require different strategies. I could see myself purchasing the base game to play with my family and teach my nieces how to play. Then maybe collect some expansion packs over time.