This was the first DVD board game I have ever tried, so I was interested to see how it would play out. I played it with my 11-year-old son and his 10-year-old friend. At first, they refused to play it at night because they were worried they were going to be too scared. So we tried it during the day.
In the game, you have 49 minutes to race around the board collecting each of six different colored keys. As you play, the Gatekeeper interrupts you and tries to prevent you from winning while verbally abusing the players. (It's done in a very campy style, all in fun.)
I found it difficult to keep track of what was going on in the game because of the frequent interruptions, although it was easier the second time around (which was at night because the boys declared the game not at all scary). Although the game's manufacturer claims that no game is ever the same, there is not enough variety in the Gatekeeper's actions to keep an adult interested past the third or fourth playing.
That being said, it would be a great game for a Halloween party. It's quite spooky. I'd like to try it on my son's friends after I set up the family room with black lights and spooky decorations. They'd definitely have a blast.
The game is much more fun if you end up racing the clock to beat the Gatekeeper. We were all on our feet during the last minute of play the second time through, cheering each other on and passing the dice as quickly as possible so one of us could beat the Gatekeeper. I was surprised at the teamwork evident at the end of the game. It was nice to see, after my son had tried everything to defeat me during the rest of the game.
I'd give this gane an age range of 9 to 14. Would I buy it again? Yes, but for a Halloween party or one of my son's Harry Potter birthday parties. Not for everyday use.
