Since I’ve been logging games here on BGG, I’ve decided to write a review for every hundredth game played. I’ve begun calling it the “Every 100 Games Series” and enjoy the mystery of what game I will review next. My 600th game played was Fury of Dracula and so here is what I think about it.

Strategy & Tactics
This game is chock full of strategy, but beware you dice and card haters, there is also a substantial amount of luck. Both sides, Dracula and the Hunters, have to plan ahead to be able to win. What cities they need to visit, in Dracula’s case what encounters to leave behind, the Hunters need to plan on who will fight Dracula, and there is continuous second guessing on the Hunters’ part.

I’ve played the game 5 times now, lost most of the time as both Dracula and the Hunters, and see where I can improve in strategy. Whenever I am finished I am thinking, where I can improve my strategy, what could I have done better. There is some tactical play as well in the battles, by understanding what to expect from the opponent’s hand.

Looks
The game looks great! The board has an Old Europe map on it and really gives the feel of the era. The cards and chits are all of high quality and good art as well. The actual player pieces very nice as well, though they do not come pre-painted, you can look here on the Geek for some great painted figures. I will eventually paint mine, at least different colors, because right now they can be difficult to distinguish between each other if you don’t look closely.

Difficulty
The game is somewhat difficult to learn and play. There are many different situations that you can get in where you have to consult the rulebook. I suggest printing of some very good player aids and rules summaries before you play. Though basic idea of each turn is relatively simple, you move and take an action, what you do in that action and where you move can be the difficult thing to teach and to learn.

Overall
When I first played this game, I wasn’t that impressed, but since then I have liked it better each time. The board and pieces are great; the theme fits very well to the book, and the fact that there is some luck in the dice and cards make the game exciting. I would suggest the game to you if you are looking for a co-operative game, a game that is good with two players, and something that is different than the usual themes that you are playing (I play mostly Euro games). I would not suggest the game if you are looking for a quick 1 hour game or will be playing with complete non-gamers.