JRPGs have a deep connection to the world of tabletop gaming. After all, grandfathers of the genre such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest took much inspiration from a certain dungeon-crawling phenomenon. These games exploded in popularity, and with them came a new era for tabletop gaming as well. For those who want that full circle experience, Tunnel Story may just be the RPG for your next session.
Tunnel Story is a tactical board game in the vein of Fire Emblem, and supports one to four players. Instead of being bold adventurers, however, you play as the hero's iconic weapon, a relic of great power. Though heroes may fall, another will always pick up the relic in their place. As far as tabletop RPGs go, it's a unique premise to have players be the "loot."
The creators were open about their inspirations from the 8-bit to 16-bit era of the genre. I loved the "first" Fire Emblem (which is really the seventh but it was the first localized in English, yada yada, it's a whole thing). The general feel of the combat and aesthetic here definitely evoke that classic tactical RPG vibe.
The developers did provide a general overview of the game's lore as well as its basic gameplay. Highlights include an original "K.O.M.B.O. Dice system" that encourages combo-style combat, and dynamic exploration. The latter is accomplished through modular terrain cards which affect the battlefield. Other mechanics such as monster captures and co-op play will also play center-stage. That said, the campaign does have a few hurdles.
Some folks on Kickstarter and YouTube shared concerns such as the lack of a sample rulebook and shots of physical prints of the game. Personally, both concerns are valid. While the game does look exciting, it vibes like a bunch of cool ideas rather than a coherent game. To their credit, the developers did provide detailed responses to these concerns. They also claim no AI-generated content was used for development.
Hopefully, it all hashes out, as these hangups are inevitable with any ambitious project.The Wargamer Discord is full of nerdyfolk with a passion for tabletop gaming. For some more tactical trouble, these strategy board games will wrack your brain.