When I was taking German as a world language class in high school, I learned about an old Christmas tradition. While Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, would bring gifts to good children, a demon named Krampus would punish children who were misbehaving. That seems like a lot worse than just getting coal in your stocking. Since that time, Krampus has become more well known in America and even appeared in a holiday horror movie. Now Krampus makes a new appearance in the Horrified series of tabletop games and is available just in time for the holidays.
What Is Horrified: Krampus?
Horrified: Krampus is an expansion monster which can be added to either of the two latest games in the Horrified series–Horrified: World of Monsters or Horrified: Greek Monsters. You will need one of these two games in order to face off against Krampus. Horrified: Krampus is available as a gift with the purchase of any Horrified game on the Ravensburger online store for a limited time. It is also available at some local game stores as a promotion when you purchase a Horrified game.
Horrified: Krampus was designed by Prospero Hall and published by Ravensburger, with illustrations by Nathan Anderson.
Horrified: Krampus Components
Here is what you get in the box:
- 1 Krampus Miniature
- 1 Monster Mat
- 2 Monster Cards
- 1 Perk Card
- 4 Standees with bases
Horrified: Krampus includes a miniature of Krampus to use during the game and to add to your collection of monsters.
Just like all of the other monsters, Krampus has its own monster mat. Not only does this contain instructions for advancing and defeating Krampus, but also spot to place captured or rescued Children.
Horrified: Krampus comes with one Perk card and two Monster cards. The Monster card lures Children towards Krampus while the Perk card is a quick way to rescue either St. Nicholas or one of the Children who have been captured by Krampus.
How to Add Horrified: Krampus to Your Game
Krampus can be added to Horrified: World of Monsters or Horrified: Greek Monsters. Just replace one of the other monsters you would normally use.
Setup
Krampus is placed in the Monster start location for the Frenzy 5 monster. However, if you are using another Frenzy 5 monster, you can place Krampus in any other start location. In order to place the three Children tokens, draw three items and then place one token in each location listed on the items. Children cannot be placed in the same location as Krampus, so draw new items so that all Children are in their own locations. Next place the St. Nicholas standee in the same location as the first player. Finally shuffle the Krampus monster cards into the monster deck and the St. Nicolas perk into the Perk deck. The rest of the setup is the same as for the normal game.
Gameplay
St. Nicholas and the Children use the same rules as Citizens or Legends for movement and attacks by Krampus. Other monsters ignore the Children and St. Nicholas and do not move toward them nor attack them. The heroes must guide the Children to St. Nicholas’ location which is their safe location. However, St. Nicholas has no safe location. Once a Child is at the same location as St. Nicholas, a hero in that location and discard items to save the Child and place them on Krampus’ monster board in St. Nicholas’ section. Once all three Children have been saved, a hero in Krampus’ location can discard items to defeat Krampus by tricking it into leaving.
If St. Nicolas or the Children are defeated by Krampus, place the standees on the Krampus location on the monster board and raise the Terror level. Heroes in the same location as Krampus can discard items to free these captives. Krampus cannot be defeated if St. Nicholas is captured, so you need to free him first.
Why You Should Get Horrified: Krampus
My family has always enjoyed playing the Horrified series. Krampus not only adds a holiday flavor to the game, but also provides some new ways of playing. Unlike the other monsters that go after any citizens or legends, Krampus only goes after the Children and St. Nicholas. While defeating these people raises the Terror level, the heroes can free them and keep them in play. Krampus continues to go after heroes, but since the monster focuses on St. Nicholas and the Children, it is like adding a mini game to the game with some special rules. As a result, Horrified: Krampus adds some new strategy and gameplay to the game and makes an already great game even better. I recommend getting your hands on Horrified: Krampus while it is still available.
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Disclosure: GeekDad received a copy of this game for review purposes.
