A New BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Tabletop Game Has Been Announced Titled SHADOW OF THE BAT
IDW Games has teamed up with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC to create a new tabletop game inspired by the classic show Batman: The Animated Series. The game will be titled Batman: The Animated Series Adventures – Shadow of the Bat, and it will launch on Kickstarter on February 18th.
This is a miniatures-driven board game that is part of the Adventures Universal Game System (AUGS), and is compatible with all other AUGS products. Arkham Asylum, a full-sized expansion, will also launch on Kickstarter alongside Shadow of the Bat. Both of these are expected to be released in the fall of 2020.
Shadow of the Bat offers unrivaled flexibility and player choice. “Players can take the role of any hero in their roster in the game’s 24 unique missions, all inspired by fan-favorite episodes. Likewise, even villains can be swapped out in every mission to change up the threats that players will face.”
In Shadow of the Bat, “1-4 players will take to the streets as Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and Catwoman, each with their own unique character abilities, skills, and custom dice. And they’ll have to work together in order to take down the likes of Two-Face, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Man-Bat, The Joker, and Harley Quinn. As with other AUGS games, villains can be controlled by the game itself for full co-op play, or by a 5th player. AUGS’ modularity means that players can even create their own dream scenarios and teams, including bringing in elements from other AUGS products.”
The Arkham Asylum expansion, which will “add 13 more missions to play through, and an all-new game mode: Clayface mode. In Arkham Asylum players will explore the halls of the infamous psychiatric hospital as they tangle with Clayface, Poison Ivy, Jervis Tetch, The Ventriloquist, Killer Croc, Maxie Zeus, Lock-Up, Clock King, Baby Doll, and Hugo Strange. In Clayface mode, each hero will be given a card that will indicate if they are who they appear to be, or if they’re actually Clayface in hiding. At any time, the Clayface player can reveal their true identity, transforming into the massive Clayface, and turn on their former friends!”
Players will also have the option to expand their roster of heroes and villains with The New Batman Adventures character pack, containing Nightwing, Tim Drake as Robin, Calendar Girl, and Firefly. Story Packs for Mask of the Phantasm and Mystery of the Batwoman will also be available, adding new missions and characters–The Phantasm and Bruce Wayne in plain clothes, and Batwoman and Bane, respectively–that follow the films’ stories.
Anyone looking to try before they buy will be able to play a digital demo of Batman: The Animated Series Adventures – Shadow of the Bat through either Tabletopia or Tabletop Simulator. This demo contains three missions that follow The Joker-centric episode Joker’s Favor. For more information on the digital demos, head over to IDWGames.com/BTASDemo.
This could be a lot of fun to play!