Z-Man Games: Exploring Stuffed Fables and Mice and Mystics

Z-Man Games: Exploring Stuffed Fables and Mice and Mystics

When it comes to modern board games, Z-Man Games paved the road for the hobby we know and love today. From their original hits like A Feast For Odin, to their more recent franchise Pandemic, Z-Man Games has always been a leader in the SHELF space race.

Z-Man Games recently sent my family two of their games: Stuffed Fables as well as Mice and Mystics. Let’s unbox, play, and share our thoughts on these two games and their expansions!

Stuffed Fables: An Adventure Book Game

Have you ever dreamt of your stuffed animals coming to life, well, in Stuffed Fables those dreams become a very fun reality! In this co-op storybook game, you will be playing as a stuffed animal that has come to life to protect their children from the creatures in their nightmares. You and your fellow stuffies will flip through pages that guide you through the different scenarios and maps of the game. The book is unique in the sense that it serves as both the rule book and the board. 

Game mechanics

Something that sets Stuffed fables apart from other games on the market is the turns being dependent on dice drawing. The dice you draw have various actions associated with them such as yellow being search, green being a ranged attack, and so on. This bit of chance really helps add to the replayability of the game as it is unlikely you will draw the same dice in two separate games. 

Stuffed Fables: Oh, Brother! Expansion

The Oh, Brother expansion brings in two new stuffies and a brand-new storybook when a new baby brother joins the family. In this expansion we are introduced to Pokey, an adorable stuffed unicorn, and Manny, a hand-me-down action figure. Besides new stuffies, there are new enemies joining the game, adding a new layer of strategy to uncover.

Stuffed Fables really sticks with me for the theme. It is such a unique take on an adventure style game that I have not seen in other board games. Plus, I love miniatures and these stuffies are absolutely adorable!

Mice and Mystics: Small of Stature, Big of Heart

For those of you who like a more dungeon crawler style game, like Pericle or Mini Rogue, this ones for you! In Mice and Mystics you take on the role of a loyal mouse, adventuring on a quest to save the kingdom! On your journey you will encounter foes such as rats, spiders, and even a cat. 

In this cooperative game, each player will have their own role in the adventure, based on the class they belong to. You can be anything from a wizard mouse to an archer mouse, the choice is yours. The various characters' abilities is one of my favorite aspects of the game since you can play the entire game through and experience it in a whole new light, replaying it as a new role.

Mechanics:

If you’ve ever played a dice driven RPG, then you’ll pick up Mice and Mystics with no trouble! The dice rolling brings in a certain element of luck that really keeps you on your toes, unsure of the next move you will be making. The game also incorporates one of my favorite styles of games… Dungeon crawlers! With new maps and objectives to unlock, each chapter of the game is unique in its own right.

Mice and Mystics: Downwood Tales Expansion

The Downwood Tales Expansion is the larger of the two Mice and Mystics expansions and it has A LOT to unpack. In this expansion we are introduced to new characters, Villains, items, locations, and so much more! We also get the chance to meet new creatures, like frogs and turtles, while on the journey. In this packed to the brim expansion, we also find a new reptilian character, Jakobe the gecko. If you’re a fan of Mice and Mystic and want new content to add to the game, Downwood Tales might just be for you.

Mice and Mystics: Heart of Glorm Expansion

While Downwood Tales is a much heavier expansion, Heart of Gloom still adds a new layer to the game by introducing a new storybook and an all new hero named Neré. In this expansion we also learn about Slug Pets… a pet which each mouse receives to help them in a specific chapter of the game. My favorite aspect of Heart of Gloom would have to be the rule book. Not too much, while being enough to learn the game, the perfect sweet spot for family game nights!

Final Thoughts: Which Adventure is For You?

One of my favorite aspects of both of these games are the maps! In many of my games, the same board is used for every session. This is not a deal breaker, but I love that the board/map is always changing from level to level in Stuffed Fables and Mice and Mystics. This adds an incredible deal to the replayability and makes every level a new adventure that requires a new strategy.

While both of these games are amazing in their own ways it's really up to you on which theme better fits your preferences as well as the preferences of the people you play with. If you’re a fan of dungeon crawlers and RPG games like Pericle, Mice and Mystics would be my suggestion. If you’re looking for a game with lots of colors, minis, and a story that makes you feel young at heart, Stuffed fables is the way to go. You seriously can’t go wrong with either of these games! One thing I will point out is, Stuffed Fables might be more fit for family game nights, while Mice and Mystics would be great for a board game group.

In the end, Z-Man Games has hit another home run with these games. Creating a universe for a game that is fun, engaging, and unique is not easy, and they did this with both of these amazing games. My final note to you is to definitely check out the expansions. I am a sucker for a good expansion and these 3 here add so much to these already great games!

Happy gaming!