There’s something timeless about a stalwart group of people standing strong against difficult, even insurmountable odds. These are stories of courage, valor, duty, and friendship. From the earliest days of civilization to the present day, tales have been written about the few against the many, in no small part because they embody some of the best traits that humans can put forth. They show the side of human tenacity and perseverance that flourishes only when things are at their bleakest, and it makes us all strive to do better.
When the protagonists are mere children, as is the case here, those traits are highlighted even more. Whether it’s a coming of age adventure or fanciful lessons about growing up, stories of kids and their extraordinary experiences have a knack of stirring up a sense of wonderment and optimism about the world in a way that only the eyes of a young mind. They remind us of what’s possible through teamwork and never giving up.
And damn it, Goonies never say die.
Evoking modern tales of childhood adventures from The Goonies, to E.T., to Happy Potter, The Guardians: Explore is an evocative and thematic game that asks players to band together as kids and defend their town from an evil that has befallen it.
In it, their hometown of Arthursburg has been transformed by foul and evil magic. Wild creatures have become dangerous monsters, friends are now dangerous enemies. Even the nice old lady who runs the ice cream stand wants nothing more than to see you fail . It’s a battle both for the survival of your town and the restoration of everything you hold dear. The odds are against you, but failure is not an option.
It’s like Stranger Things, only with slightly less denim.
Using a mix of deckbuilding, card drafting, worker placement, and even a little area control, The Guardians tasks each person to defend themselves and the town from the Big Bad behind it all, or risk losing Arthursburg forever. To do that, each player must gather cards to upgrade their deck and make strategic choices using their hands every turn to determine which monsters to kill and how best to clean out each part of the town. And if they manage to prevail, then everyone settles down to see which of them was the biggest hero of them all and can claim ultimate victory.
Because, well, that’s what kids do.
To avoid sending people in to dangerous and mysterious lands without any experience, we figured a practice run would be good. So we’re giving away a copy of the game to that end. From now until midnight EST on September 30th you can check the contest out on our Facebook page, or by entering below. Just follow the entry form and proceed with the contest. The more you do, even if just one, you still have a better chance than not entering at all. Of course you’re welcome to do that too. But your odds of winning drop to zero. No pressure or anything.
The Fine Print: The Cardboard Republic, in conjunction with Reihon Games is giving this game away strictly for entertainment purposes. This act is not a paid endorsement by Reihon Games or any other entity. This contest is open to individuals only. Staff members of The Cardboard Republic and Reihon Games are not eligible to participate. For winners outside of the Continental US, the publisher reserves the right to request they cover part or all of the shipping costs.