Gloom

by Atlas

• For 2-4 players
• Takes about an hour to play
• Tons of replay value
• Unique theme

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Origin: USA
• ASIN: 158978068X
• Item model number: AG1250
• Manufacturer recommended age: 15 - 15 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #44 in Toys & Games > Games > Board Games
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (148 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

In the Gloom card game, you assume control of the fate of an eccentric family of misfits and misanthropes. The goal of the game is sad, but simple: you want your characters to suffer the greatest tragedies possible before passing on to the well-deserved respite of death. You'll play horrible mishaps like Pursued by Poodles or Mocked by Midgets on your own characters to lower their Self-Worth scores, while trying to cheer your opponents' characters with marriages and other happy occasions that pile on positive points. The player with the lowest total Family Value wins. b Printed on transparent plastic cards, Gloom features an innovative design by noted RPG author Keith Baker. Multiple modifier cards can be played on top of the same character card, since the cards are transparent, elements from previously played modifier cards either show through or are obscured by those played above them. You'll immediately and easily know the worth of every character, no matter how many modifiers they have. You've got to see (through) this game to believe it.

Product Description

Gloom: The Game of Inauspicious Incidents and Grave Consequences

The world of Gloom is a sad and benighted place. The sky is gray, the tea is cold, and a new tragedy lies around every corner. Debt, disease, heartache, and packs of rabid flesh-eating mice -- just when it seems like things can't get any worse, they do. But some say that one's reward in the afterlife is based on the misery endured in life. If so, there may yet be hope -- if not in this world, then in the peace that lies beyond.

In the Gloom card game, you assume control of the fate of an eccentric family of misfits and misanthropes. The goal of the game is sad, but simple: you want your characters to suffer the greatest tragedies possible before passing on to the well-deserved respite of death. You'll play horrible mishaps like Pursued by Poodles or Mocked by Midgets on your own characters to lower their Self-Worth scores, while trying to cheer your opponents' characters with marriages and other happy occasions that pile on positive points. The player with the lowest total Family Value wins.

Printed on transparent plastic cards, Gloom features an innovative design by noted RPG author Keith Baker. Multiple modifier cards can be played on top of the same character card; since the cards are transparent, elements from previously played modifier cards either show through or are obscured by those played above them. You'll immediately and easily know the worth of every character, no matter how many modifiers they have. You've got to see (through) this game to believe it!

For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "sad" experience indeed August 1, 2009

By Sřren Staun Biangslev

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

We were four guys who sat down yesterday and played this game all night, it's tons of fun, and quite creative as well if you emphasize the storytelling part of the game (which you should!). The storytelling has a high educational value as well, as it helps you tie stories together, and be socially creative.

You win the game by having bad things happening in abundance to your family members (each player has got 5), and then killing them when they are worst off. The challenge, however, is that your opponents try to make good things happen to your family members as well, so the story told about each person is a gloomy chronicle with occasional happy events ("Oh look! Ducklings... awww....").

Gloom uses transparent cards, which adds a new dimension to the game, but turns out to be extremely important to give the players an overview of the current condition of a family member. It's very intuitive and easily played.

If you like such games as Munchkin or Fluxx 4.0 this is the game for you, as it contains some of the same brilliant elements, on-the-fly rule changes etc. The only downside seems to be that the amount of cards may be a bit too few for a 4 person game, so I'd recommend buying the Unhappy Homes (Gloom) and Unwelcome Guests Gloom Expansion extensions as well.

The guys and I laughingly agreed that we all had a very depressing experience. :-)

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative and Fun September 23, 2005

By Robert M. Wiersma

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

Gloom is a big hit with my 11- and 14-year old daughters and myself. It is best played with people who like to embellish the stories of how such bad things can happen to these pathetic characters. If you like creativity, or promoting creative thinking and storytelling, this game might very well be for you. It is not for people who are easily offended, small children, overly competitive or those without a sense of humor.

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Cards become unplayable July 11, 2010

By jessica

Durability: 1.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

I liked this game however I was unable to play this game more then a few times because the cards smudge and the ink rubs off too easily especial for the price I paid. You would think that because the cards are plastic they would hold up, I wasn't rough on the cards and only played on clean surfaces...It was a disappointment for durability.