Review: 5-MINUTE DUNGEON Is a Blast Even with Only 2 Players
People all over are looking for new games to play in these times of social distancing, and I have a new recommendation: 5-Minute Dungeon. This is a very simple game that can take as little as five minutes to play (with about 2 minutes added for setup and take down). Plus, if you prefer Marvel to fantasy, there’s 5-Minute Marvel. I haven’t played that version though, so I’m unsure if there are any differences aside from the looks.
5-Minute Dungeon is a creation of Connor Reid and is published by Wiggles 3D and Spin Master. In the game, you can have 2-5 players at a time and you have 5 minutes to go through and clear a dungeon including the boss. Each player will choose from 5 different roles and then one of two characters for that role. These are basic classes like Barbarian, Paladin, Ranger, Wizard, etc. Each character has a unique ability that can greatly help you and your party as you take out monsters and overcome obstacles. The game is done in real-time, so there are no turns. The game gets chaotic the second the timer starts.
Each player has a unique deck of cards with different proportions of the various symbols needed to progress the game as well as unique ability cards. For example, the green deck has cards that let players get cards back from their discard pile. This is very nice as you’re defeated if your deck runs out and you’re constantly drawing cards from it.
The game is a lot of fun, even if you only have two people. The other night, my wife and I played a few games, and it worked out really well. Of course, it can get more fun with more players, but there are so many games that advertise a 2-player mode that don’t really work as a 2-player game. Thankfully, this one does work well.
The game is also not complex at all and therefore perfect for playing with children. The game recommends ages 8+, but you can always use your best judgement. All you have to do is play cards with symbols that match the enemies and draw cards. There is some reading that has to be done for abilities, but it is pretty minimal.
One of the best parts of the game is the timer app you can download on your phone or tablet. All it is is a timer, but there are 6 unique voices ranging from Epic (voiced by Jon Bailey, the Epic Voice Guy) to Scottish and Fearful. It definitely adds to the experience though.
I would definitely recommend 5-Minute Dungeon, even if you only have one other person to play with. You can purchase the game from most major retailers including Amazon and Wal-Mart as well as your local game store if they’re open and/or taking orders.
