Armello Reviews
Board gaming come to life, with none of the missing pieces.
The only major things that hold Armello back are things that either can be fixed or are purely subjective. Personally I feel the random element is a little too on the nose, but like all good board games, there are going to be those who really dig that particular feature. Armello's a fantastic example of a gateway board game and also a great way to spend an hour or two with friends who may not be able to get around a table.
Playing is both a joy and infuriating, depending on your back stabbing/stabbed ratio. In either case, I found myself wanting to go back for more.
Armello is a great addition to the Switch library, delivering a tabletop experience on the go. Beautiful to look at, this title boasts deep, engrossing mechanics for those who are willing to stick it out through the rather steep learning curve. While you won't be able to hop onto the couch and engage in local multiplayer with your friends, Armello helps make up for this with solid AI and an online multiplayer option.
Despite being a bit abstruse at times, Armello is excellent at maintaining your interest and offers plenty of guidance to improve your playing technique. Overall, this is a remarkable digital board game that combines an engaging lore with likeable scenarios and fascinating mechanics.
Being digitized has been the enabling factor for Armello. In reality this would be a boring stat-checking and constant dice rolling experience, but the PS4 takes all the slack, doing the math and dice-rolling for you, allowing you to just enjoy the show. This makes the heavy rule book seem more palatable while you enjoy the rich and engaging lore. It's a well-balanced and good-looking experience that shows originality is still possible in a format that's centuries old.
Mixing a unique setting with classic strategic and board game elements, Armello is easy to recommend.
League of Geeks has crafted a fascinating world within its board game Armello, making it a unique and difficult quest that fans of both video games and tabletops will enjoy.
Armello is definitely a game I'd recommend if you are a fan of tabletop board games. It manages to capture that unique spirit and presents it in a magical world full of color and vibrancy. Even with the prologue helping teach new players, there's a deep learning curve on the main game that may take a few attempts to fully comprehend everything. With that said, it's not necessarily a bad thing though since Armello rewards multiple playthroughs. The single-player portion isn't terribly long, meaning a single game can be finished relatively quick, depending on the situation.
The question of whether you should buy and play Armello comes down to whether you would enjoy its format as a turn-based four-player board game. If that description doesn't immediately make you grimace, then this is the best entry in its genre to arrive for the past five years.
Armello shows a lot of promise and its mechanics work well in a virtual environment while still keeping their tabletop feel. However, the lengthy AI turns, not to mention the sometimes-unfair RNG and erratic AI behavior, weigh it down.
Armello is a fun and addicting mesh of genres that never quite reaches greatness due to some quirky balance issues and multiplayer dilemmas, but what's on offer here should please anyone looking to spend some quality time on a modern-day board game.
Developer League of Geeks has succeeded in crafting a solid board game experience in video game form, albeit one that lacks environment diversity and player company. Armello ticks all the right boxes for a keen strategist, and whilst not being the group gathering experience some might hope for, does give a tightly woven system and narrative that is satisfying to conquer.
Armello is a misunderstood work of art, despite some simple flaws. It has great mechanics - in spite of a weak tutorial -, an excellent art direction and, even if it looks like a niche game, is really good and should be played by all. Being its developer's debut game, it honours its multiple genres, pleasing both older and newer players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Armello is an intriguing game to play which tickled quite a few things for me in relation to its world and game style
Armello is a well-done, smartly crafted turn-based tabletop strategy game. Play if you love tabletops. Pass if you can't stand games that involve dice rolls and skipped turns.
Armello has many amazing qualities. It is certainly the most authentic take on digital tabletop gaming I have seen. While it could have benefited from the inclusion of a dedicated campaign, the lore and background infused into it's world make it a joy to play. Board game fans should beware - once Armello casts it's dice-dueling spell on you, going back to the tabletop will never be the same!
There is a certain charm to a board game; whether that is the feeling of the dice rattling in your hand, the subtle plastics and resins of the miniature units, the detailed boards, the fact that you actually play it with real people, something. While I was excited for a go at Armello, I was also apprehensive; board games are like couch co-op, better with company. Digitizing the experience, I feared, would lesson the impact of a story, the tense nature of a close game, or the excitement that comes with an excellent roll of the dice. Fortunately Armello and the great folks at League of Geeks laid my fears to rest as the board game experience is translated quite nicely (minus the shouting and making up of house rules) to the Xbox One. In reflection I think that the reason it translates so well is because of the little things, like the idea that you use the left analog stick to rock back, then forward, to roll your dice for combat, or the hex-based overworld movement; tied that into an intriguing and genuinely interesting premise and it really is a winner.
The low entry requirements and the unique nature of the game will keep you, your family and friends occupied for hours on end. Each game is a story yet to be written, an adventure of your own to craft. Fans of the traditional board experience will find a lot to love here as will those who like a good helping of strategy in their games.
Armello presents an imaginative backdrop to a fantasy board game with deep mechanics. The steep learning curve and balancing issues may put off some players, but those who put in the time will be rewarded the most.