Back in 2012, Kosmos published the cooperative strategy board game Legends of Andor. In this dice rolling fantasy adventure, players embark on a quest to save the titular kingdom of Andor. It has nothing to do with Roguish Star Wars rebel Cassian Andor, nor is it in any way related to the Hungarian economist László Andor. All the same, it's a solid time, particularly when it's available for less than $20.
There are plenty of fantasy board games out there, so what makes Legends of Andor unique? Well, for a start, Michael Menzel did the art, so the game looks great. Menzel provides the illustrations for Settlers of Catan, alongside a slew of other titles, and he brings his signature artistic style to bear here.
The game takes place over a campaign of five scenarios, known as "legends", and has a problem solving focus. It's less about bashing orcs in intricate RPG battles, (although there are mechanics for combat) and more about time management. As the game progresses, event cards resolve that unleash all sorts of nastiness across the kingdom.
Players need to spend their time navigating the board putting out fires (in some cases literally), while working towards the objective of the current scenario. In this way, Legends of Andor is closer to Pandemic than it is to Gloomhaven.
Legends of Andor is designed to be accessible and to accommodate family play. It has a simple fantasy storyline and is meant to be approachable and not overly complex.
Legends of Andor is currently avalible on Amazon for $19.99.
What are some of your favorite games from back in 2012? Let us know in the Wargamer Discord.
For some other easy to learn titles, check out our list of the best family games. If you've got a gaming group that you're keen to embark on a sword and sorcery adventure with, you might also be interested in our list of the best tabletop RPGs.