Mandi & Chris played D&D: The Yawning Portal at Compulsory Merriment last week while I observed the fray in between waiting on customers. Not to worry that I have nothing to say about it. Much as Mandi always wins, I always have unsolicited advice and a smarty-pants remark!
The Yawning Portal is a light game where players are the tavern staff in charge of feeding the heroes who sit across from each other at table. Each hero has a particular taste for ham, fish, veggies or beer. You earn points for feeding the hero what they want, plus you get gems for meeting the hero’s specific dietary requirements … which is sort of like getting a tip. There are magic potions, challenges, endgame bonuses and extra points for gathering the most gems of a particular color.
This is a D&D-themed game that introduces players to 68 characters–from goblins and wizards to a vegetarian dwarf–but you don’t need to be a D&D enthusiast to enjoy it! The Yawning Portal is a fun little puzzle placement game with light strategy, easy rules and quick setup.
2-4 players, 45-60 minutes playtime, Ages 10+