Gen Con 2018: Archon Games ESCHATON Follow-Up NEXUS INFERNUM Is A Good Time

In 2016 Archon Games was a small booth in the corner of Gen Con. They had one game, Eschaton, which looked like it was designed by a heavy metal album concept artist from the 80s and played like a cross between Dominion and Risk. The game became a sleeper hit that year and now two years later Archon is hoping to up their profile in the gaming industry with an entirely new game, Nexus Infernum. Check out the synopsis for the game below, some of its artwork, our thoughts on the company's latest endeavor, and if you like what you see consider donating to the Kickstarter in support of the game:

In Nexus Infernum, each player assumes the role of a power-hungry Necromancer seeking to become the most blasphemous in the realm. Through command of their skeletal minions gathered in the Nexus, players will battle against one another in a struggle to control six portals and channel the energy that manifests within them. As players channel the four different strains of dark arcana from the portals, they will enhance their powers through invoking and forging unholy pacts with demons gathered beyond the breach. Each demonic pact moves a player towards victory through accumulation of points of blasphemy.

Much like Eschaton, things initially feel a bit overwhelming in Nexus Infernum. That said, about three turns in, everyone understood the routine of what all goes down during your turn..which goes as follows...

1. Roll dice to see which portal (which is marked by different symbols) gets resources. Your dice determine the color of resources as well as the portal. 

2. Roll dice to see where your first skeleton will travel to. Initially this move means nothing, but as more of your skeletons invade the board you'll have to roll a higher number on the threshold to allow a new skeleton to enter the arena. 

3. Once your skeleton is on the board they can move to any other portal they choose. Later on in the game when multiple skeletons are in play players can spend a blue resource to move an additional skeleton.

4. If two players have a skeleton on the same spot, a player can roll dice and see if they can kill the opposing skeleton. The attacker will need to roll a 4 or higher on a six-sided die to defeat the opposing skeleton, and the defender will roll a D4. If the defender rolls a 4, they will kill the attacking skeleton. In later rounds, players can use a black resource to attack more skeletons.

5. Player will then roll a D4 to determine how many resources they can pluck from their portal. 

6. Player can then choose to bank their resources and hold them until their next turn, or spend it on a demon in the pool. Each demon has different values and purchasing a demon will eventually allow you to unlock pacts which grant you points as well as additional abilities throughout the game. Pacts are only unlocked when a player successfully gains a pair of demons from the same color scheme.

7. Next player moves...

It sounds like a LOT to do, but once everyone is familiar with the rules, it moves pretty fast. As they did with Eschaton, Archon is planning a cool wood-cut super fancy version of the game, which for anyone who has seen the Eschaton version, will be super impressive.

Overall, I had a great time playing the game, and I think I can say the same for a bulk of the people at my table. It's certainly a departure from Eschaton for those hoping for something similar, but a very promising game nonetheless. If you're at all curious about this game, I highly encourage you to check it out on Kickstarter! Also if you're at Gen Con 2018, be sure to check out the game for yourself at their booth!