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“5-Minute Dungeon” and expansion “The Curse of the Overlord” by KOSMOS
Are you adventurers who can’t get enough of smashing through dungeons, proving yourself to be a real hero, and fighting off monsters? Then you should definitely check out the real-time game “5-Minute Dungeon” by KOSMOS. Take on the role of a hero, use their special ability and fight together against the threats of the five dungeons that await you.
For you guys, I took a look at 5-Minute Dungeon and the Curse of the Overlord expansion and tested how they play. Read here what my impression of the hit KOSMOS game is.
Game info for 5-Minute Dungeon and the Curse of the Overlord expansion
Brief description of the main game
“5-Minute Dungeon is a chaotic, cooperative, real-time game. The players have five minutes to find a way out of the dungeon. Players must work well together as a team of up to 5 players to defeat monsters and overcome obstacles. Once you have completed one run, the next one awaits you with even more demanding challenges.”
Short description extension
“Together against strong bosses – a cooperative adventure awaits! In this expansion to the real-time game “5-Minute Dungeon” the Overlord has upgraded powerfully. Each of his bosses has received new toys with which he makes life difficult for the heroes, above all the new curse cards, which pose permanent problems for the heroes. But the heroes also have new tricks up their sleeves: powerful artifact cards support the group of heroes, who, thanks to new allies, can now conquer the dungeon in groups of six.”
Player type
- board game
- cooperative game
- card game
- realtime game
- action game
- team play
Number of players, age and playing time
- 2-6 players
- From 8 years
- 5 minutes per boss/level
- “Hit Games With Friends 2018”
- Game of the Year 2018 Recommendation List
Awards
Content main game
- 1 hero board
- 52 hero cards
- 6 artifact cards
- 25 dungeon maps
- 2 quest cards
Game guide
- content extension
- 250 cards
- 5 player boards
- 5 boss boards
- 5-Minute Dungeon Game Rules
How do you play 5-Minute Dungeon?
The game goal
Your task is to be the first to catch all five monsters.
The game preparation
First you prepare your heroes by each of you choosing one, placing it in front of you and reading the special ability to everyone. Then take the corresponding hero deck, shuffle the cards and place them face down as a draw pile on the hero board.
You can choose from:
- Sorceress & Mage (arcane, secret knowledge – scrolls)
- Nanya & Thief (stealth, deception, acrobatics – jumps)
- Barbarian & Gladiator (brutal violence – swords)
- Huntress & Ranger (Ranged Weapons – Arrows)
- Paladin & Valkyrie (Armored Defenders – Shields)
- Depending on the number of players, each player takes 3 to 5 cards from the deck.
Then you prepare the boss tableau, which is used for the dungeon with 3 levels of difficulty. According to the 5-Minute Dungeon game rules, this tableau comes into your midst and is equipped with the dungeon and quest cards. Again depending on the number of players, you can see on the back how many cards you need. Shuffle these, place them face down on the boss board and set aside all other cards.
The gameplay
You play together against the game – you have to defeat every card in the stack to make your way to the boss to give him something to do as well. You always have 5 minutes and three ways to choose from. There is a free app for Android and iOS, but in principle you can use any other stopwatch.
So you can try your luck with the hero cards by using the required resources that the dungeon cards show. Another possibility is to play the action cards. This is the case when the dungeon maps have text. The third option offers your hero special ability of the hero board. To do this, place 3 cards from your hand face up on the discard pile and talk to the other players. Tell them what ability is being used. However, this only works if you still have 3 cards in your hand. Also pay attention to the conditions, such as the type that can be attacked.
When you have played cards, you can refill the same number from the draw pile, so you always have a full hand deck. If the draw pile is empty, only luck helps to continue.
End of game – win or lose
This is how you fight your way through dungeon after dungeon until you hopefully arrive at the dungeon overlord. At this point it is decided whether you win or lose. Before starting a new dungeon you have to build it up again, you can continue with more or fewer players and/or use other hero tableaus.
However, it is also possible that your hero skills are not sufficient and you will be routed by the bosses – you will lose the game. This can happen if you run out of time, run out of cards, or are unable to play required symbols, hero abilities, or action cards.
Benefits of 5 Minute Dungeon
- Very simple game rules
- Extremely high fun factor
- Increasing difficulty
- Heroes can be changed in between
- Suitable for larger groups
The game preparation
The game setup is the same as in the base game with three small changes in the 5-Minute Dungeon game rules:
- Each hero deck is expanded with the two new action cards
- Each of the six heroes now has one. This is placed next to each other with the colored side facing up.
- You replace the five dungeon maps with five “The Curse of the Overlord” boss maps. From the boss tableau you can see how many dungeon maps you need to add (depending on your number of players and the level of difficulty).
The gameplay
Each hero that you don’t travel with gives you their artifacts, which you lay out with the colored side up when you enter a dungeon. You can use all of them, but only once per dungeon.
The trick with the expansion is that each boss gets his own cards, which makes your victory march more difficult because he tries to rout you with mini-bosses, events and curses.
Curses are active as soon as they come into play and will subjugate you until then. If you break the rules of the curse, you lose your hand of cards and have to try to reverse the curse – but that’s not always possible.
With the new events, you can or must, for example, discard resource cards, use artifacts again or discard cards from your hand.
On the whole, however, the usual gameplay remains the same.
Curse of the Overlord Benefits
- new hero class
- smaller, new rules
- more quests and artifacts
- slightly higher level of difficulty
Summary of the real-time game “5-Minute Dungeon” by Kosmos
5-Minute Dungeon by KOSMOS is a fast-paced game that’s ideal for players who want an easy start and don’t want to play overly long rounds. The 5-Minute Dungeon game rules are easy to understand and as you choose, the game evolves. However, there is not much time to think, because the timer is running – and not always for you.
The expansion brings with it a few small rule changes and with the new maps also a pleasant spice, which is especially appropriate if you have already played the main game a few times.
Both parts are reasonably priced for the fun they bring to your hero groups.
What is the goal of 5-Minute Dungeon?
The goal is to survive different dungeons while fleeing monsters and co. At the end of each dungeon there is a boss and at the end the dungeon overlord, who must also be defeated.
Who is 5 Minute Dungeon suitable for?
For anyone who enjoys playing fast paced games where time pressure is a factor. Also for players who feel comfortable in a fantastic world.
How many players can play 5-Minute Dungeon?
The game is designed for 2 to 5 players.
How many players can play The Curse of the Overlord expansion?
The Curse of the Overlord 5-Minute Dungeon expansion can be played with 2 to 6 players.
Rules of the game briefly explained
5-Minute Dungeon Quick Guide:
Preparation of the hero
Choose a hero, check your hero ability, shuffle your hero deck, and place the deck face down on the “draw deck” space on the hero board. Draw your hand cards (depending on the number of players).
Preparation of the dungeon
Prepare the boss tableau, fill the dungeon with the dungeon and quest cards (depending on the number of players and the level of difficulty). Shuffle the cards and place them face down on the boss board.
Set timers
Set a 5 minute timer using the free app or any other stopwatch.
Adventure begin
Take a card from the dungeon stack. Depending on what you draw, you have to act.
Hero resource cards
Play the symbols with your heroes – it doesn’t matter which of you does it. Put those cards aside and go straight to the next one.
Play action cards
If you reveal an action card, you must do what it says. Then put these cards aside as well and take the next one straight away.
Use special abilities
Each of your heroes has a special ability. You place 3 cards from your hand face up on the storage space, pronounce your ability and use it.
Replenish hand cards
Cards that have been played are filled up to their original size with the draw pile.
Empty draw pile
If you are out of cards or the draw pile is empty, you are unlucky and have to wait for the next opportunity to play again.
Exit dungeon
If you have successfully completed a dungeon, you prepare the next one.
To lose
If the time runs out, you have no more cards in your hand or you cannot play any symbols, you lose.
What are the rules for 5-minute dungeon?
How many players can play 5-minute dungeon?
5-Minute Dungeon by Wiggles 3D | A Chaotic, Co-Operative, Real-time Card Game | Fast-Paced Board Game | for Families, Ages 8 & up | 2-5 Players.
Is 5-minute dungeon a good game?
Each game is quick, intense and, best of all, extremely fun. The only people I wouldn’t recommend 5-Minute Dungeon to are those who don’t like the stress that comes with playing this type of real-time game. If you’ve played FUSE and it was more stressful than fun for you, then you should probably pass on this one.
Is 5-minute marvel the same as 5-minute dungeon?
Although there are some abilities and cards that are common between both games (e.g. “defeat an X” abilities), there is no hero in 5-Minute Marvel that is just a reskin of a hero from 5-Minute Dungeon. They’re very different.
Who made 5-minute dungeon?
5-Minute Dungeon is a cooperative card game designed by Connor Reid. It was created in 2017 and has now spawned an expansion pack, Curses! Foiled Again!, and 5-Minute Marvel, a spin-off game based on Marvel characters. There is also a mobile timer app as part of the gameplay.
