Etherfields — What Dreams May Come?
“…experience a Dream Crawler. You will dive into a surreal and artistically crafted world and follow one of a kind co-op/solo campaign adventure for 1–5 players. Everything you do will change the strange rhythm of the Etherfields dream world, where even the wildest fantasies are possible.”
by Awaken Realms £3,974,362 raised 32,582 backers
Etherfields is my most highly anticipated game for 2022!
If board games are an escape from stress, monotony, and the limited opportunities to experience the profound in our daily lives, then Etherfields is a chance to break free from those undesirable circumstances, whether alone or with friends, and to partake in a unique dreamlike-experience.
A Thematic Kalidescope
“Your body has been taken. That’s the only thing you know for sure. Your memory has faded away, as you drifted to this strange world of dark dreams. You are an empty vessel now. Looking around, you find masks lying around. Which one will you choose? What story will you follow? Something is coming, and you can feel it — one dream, consuming all others, leaving a faint smell of poppy seeds. What does the Funeral Witch want of you?”
This game promises a deep narrative experience based on the strangeness of dreams. Dreams are experienced, not by our physical body (so to speak) but by our minds, and in our minds, anything can happen. Dreams represent our challenges, hopes, fears, and desires, and they often manifest in peculiar ways.
Through unique dream sequences, Etherfields challenges players to cooperatively solve riddles, overcome obstacles, and defeat enemies. But who are the dreamers? Why are they trapped here together? What does the nature of their archetypes tell us?
Etherfields is a game for 1–5 players. Take on the role of the Gambler, the Tough Guy, the Specialist, the Free Spirit, and even the Reaper.
Each dreamer has a distinct, yet somehow forgotten, story to tell. Players will need to discover how best to use their strange new abilities to escape the dreams…or are they nightmares?
Etherfields is a place for explorations, but nothing is ever what it seems. Just when you think you’ve discovered a shard of your “true self” the familiar Slumbers end and a new Dream begins, making you question everything you thought you had learned.
What defines the Dreamers?
Memories Chests are essential for exploring and surviving the Dreamscape. No rules are set in stone. Reality is what the players make of it. Or is it?
The gameboard holds clues to help the Dreamers achieve their goals. Players will use their wits to solve riddles and link together shards of knowledge to escape their nightmare prisons…or are they dream temples?
Mechanically, think of Etherfields as a dungeon crawler in which combat is just one of many options. Explore, fight, find useful items, cooperate with fellow Dreamers, and build your character’s deck the way you want to play the game.
What first brought me to Etherfields was a chance viewing of an unboxing video. The art and miniatures were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Beautiful and creepy, yet dark and inviting. The components were both unique and detailed. This was no mere “game”, but an experience.
What else did I like about Etherfields?
It promises many, many hours of interesting and engaging playtime. A long-term campaign that players can sink deeply into. A promise that rules can be broken, discoveries can be made, and everything around you somehow matters.
The art took on opposing forms. At times pristine and noble, and then decayed and fearsome.
Why Etherfields might be a game for you.
- You like cooperative, narrative-driven campaign games.
- You like exceptional components and miniatures and are willing to pay premium prices for them.
- You don’t mind a mystery which in the end may partially elude you.
Why Etherfields might not be a game for you.
- The price. At $94 (before shipping), the core game is a great value, but not cheap by any means.
- You don’t have the time, the playgroup, or the table space to enjoy the game.
- You want direct answers to your questions about the story and feel uncomfortable if you don’t get them as you progress through a game.
I hope you have enjoyed this little introduction to Etherfields.
What are you most looking forward to in Etherfields?
-the BoardGameNerd
