Locke & Key: The Game (2012)

About this game

The comic book Locke & Key, by author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, tells the story of the Locke family and Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion that is home to fantastic keys that transform all who dare to use them...and a hate-filled creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all. Competition and cooperation meet in Locke & Key: The Game, which dares you to overcome the supernatural challenges of Keyhouse. As you play, you'll collect wondrous keys to open new game play options and create powerful combinations by mixing and matching cards. You and your fellow players will face these horrors together, but who will be by your side when the dust settles? On this journey, you'll make decisions on when and where to help your fellow players, but your resources are not endless. Through careful management of your cards, you can help the family overcome challenges, and you'll be rewarded for the assistance...sometimes.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 3 to 6.
• Rules load. At 1.7/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 15 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.