Gloomier: A Night at Hemlock Hall (2022)

About this game

There's mystery and murder afoot at Hemlock Hall, but this isn't a story about the dashing detective — it's the tale of the unfortunate victims. Compete to tell the most tragic tale, while keeping your opponents healthy and alive. Will you be detained in the dungeons or be poisoned while pruning? Gloomier uses transparent cards, allowing a character's story — and score — to evolve as cards are stacked upon them. Only the information that's currently visible counts. Modifier cards tell of terrible happenstances and give characters negative points. Untimely death cards end a character's depressing tale. You win if your family is the most miserable when an entire family is killed off. You don't have to have any prior experience to play Gloomier, but if you are familiar with Gloom, you'll find six new stories and fourteen new guests that can be used with any edition of Gloom! So come to Hemlock Hall, and see what delightful misery awaits! —description from publisher

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 5.
• Rules load. No complexity score has been recorded for this one.
• Age. The publisher suggests 14 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.