Test of Play: Munchkin Adventure Time!

Introducing another thing I intend to attempt to do fairly regularly in the future- quick tabletop game reviews. This time, I'm taking a look at the newest edition of Steve Jackson Games' Munchkin. Munchkin Adventure Time is much like prior themed versions of the game- cross-compatible, largely built off the same mechanics as basic munchkin. "It reminds me of a really funny version of D&D [Dungeons and Dragons] but with cards," says one enthusiastic player. 

And indeed, the core concept is very much rooted in classic tabletop role play. The main task for players is to advance through a 'dungeon' by drawing cards to break through doors, fight monsters, and loot rooms, gaining levels- and the first player to level ten wins the game. This bears quite a resemblance to tabletops, especially in the view of the kind of player it was named for- the 'munchkin', the player who focuses sheerly on their characters' stats and the best ways to play the rules to their own advantage.

However, Munchkin Adventure Time adds a new element to the mix- Characters. Much like Star Trek Catan, the character cards add triggered or inherent abilities for each player. A very nice element of the cards is that they are sensitive to the game's habitual tendency to reverse and generally play with the players' gender- each has the canonical Fionna and Cake equivalent on the back, and starts with the player's gender- so a girl might start with Marcelline, but a boy with Marshall Lee. It's nice and makes sense for a slightly younger skewed set of Munchkin- much as it is fun for all ages, Adventure Time is primarily a childrens' show, and this set is clearly aiming to be accessible to that set, with more defined rules and many more deliberate table-related effects. A creature card in this edition has additional strength if 'something sweet' is on the table, for instance, and another for if there is a beverage.

So, is Munchkin Adventure Time worth venturing your time? I'd say yes- perhaps even especially if you're a new player. Munchkin Adventure Time has the benefit of a price tag lower than any full Munchkin set, thanks to being a coproduction with USAopoly, So unless you have some distaste for the show itself such that it would color your experience, Munchkin Adventure Time makes a very nice jumping on point for a player who's never tried Munchkin before. All in all, I have to recommend it.