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S
1985 · 2-8 players · 15min · weight 1.11 · 1,367 ratings
no digital port yet
BGGEnrichedDeep analysis5SourcesRulesPickDeep dive
Rating
5.68
Users rated
1,367
Owned
4,622
Wishing
974
At a glance
What playing it feels like, broken down.
Core loop
Move your shadowlings through dark forest to avoid lantern light; regroup them under a tree before all are enchanted.
What it gives you
How strongly each kind of experience comes through (0–3)
Sensation
3
Fantasy
3
Narrative
1
Challenge
1
Fellowship
3
Discovery
1
Expression
0
Submission
1
How it works (4 mechanics)
- [3]info_asymmetry_stable— “one player moves lantern in search of Shadowlings; rest work together moving Shadowlings in the dark”
- [2]area_movement_with_blocking— “Shadowlings try to free enchanted friends; wait until light has moved far enough away to reach in shadows”
- [3]_other:light_shadow_mechanic— “lantern illuminates forest and trees, casting real shadows on the game board; played in the dark”
- [2]escalating_threat— “if one of the Shadowlings is hit by light beam, he is enchanted and can no longer move”
Under-the-radar score: 0.42
Archetype fits
How well this game shape maps to mobile archetype templates. Composite is a weighted sum of the 10 fit dimensions.
| Archetype | Composite | LTF | Session | Combo | Arc | Share | 5in | Onboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coop Hidden-movement coop with shared fail (all enchanted = lose); but tactile-light core does-not-survive on glass. | 4.90 | 8.0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Cozy Coop-or-Solo tier (BGG Cooperative Game) — no cap. Whimsical kid-coop with gentle stakes; visual_legibility weak because the literal-light gimmick won't translate to glass. | 4.50 | 7.0 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| Wordle Tactile light gimmick won't translate to Wordle's text grid. | 4.10 | 7.0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Balatro Physical light/shadow novelty — no engine, no run, no scaling. Wrong shape entirely. | 4.00 | 6.0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Snap Asymmetric one-vs-team kid game — no factional duel structure. | 3.50 | 5.0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
BGG tags
Categories (3)
Children's GameFantasyParty Game