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Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
A grimdark campaign where the boss fights are the whole reason you showed up.
Designed by Jamie Jolly (Shadowborne Games) · 2022
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One of the best boss battlers out there, with story and production that punch way above a debut publisher's weight, as long as you can stomach the storage and the occasional swingy roll.
Best for: Narrative campaign groups who want enormous boss fights and don't mind a big table footprint.
What it is
Oathsworn is a co-op campaign that's really a boss battler wearing a story coat. You and up to three friends play asymmetric heroes wandering a grimdark forest, making branching choices, then squaring off against bosses so big the minis tower over the board. Combat runs on tiered attack dice, white up to black, and the white ones can blank out and whiff your whole swing. That push-your-luck tension is the hook, and James Cosmo's narration sells every grim beat.
The catch
Here's where it gets honest. Learning it means juggling three clunky rulebooks, and players say the first couple of games drag while it clicks. The dice swing hard, so a fat roll can fizzle against a boss's defense threshold and feel deflating. The setting is competent grimdark fantasy that won't surprise you, and the box is a monster to store and haul. Push-fit minis are fragile too. If you want light or portable, keep walking.
Who it's for
Once it clicks, though, it really clicks. The modular chapters mean you'll likely finish this campaign, which is more than most legacy boxes can claim, and the boss showdowns earn their reputation as set-piece events. Real players rate it near the top of the hobby for good reason. Get it if you've got a committed group, table space to spare, and you came for the monsters. Skip it if combat math or a fiddly setup sours your evening.
What other players say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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