Halls of Hegra Review

Halls of Hegra was one of the top solo board games of 2023, with gameplay that blurs the line between a wargame and a worker-placement Euro game. Is it as good as people say? Well, I'm just another person, so I don't think my opinion is the deciding factor. You still might find this review interesting, though.

[@slimyweasel]

Great review, thank you! This game has been tickling my interest for a while now, but I'm neither a war gamer, nor do I avoid war games, I guess I'm somewhere in the middle? I'm usually more fascinated by historical or real world themes in games by default, although I'm not much into history. John Company, Pax Ren, Pax Em, Robinson, Nemo's War - these sort of games peak my interest just from a quick glance and Halls of Hegra falls straight into that category. Maybe I'm more excited by beige?
I''m also not opposed to games that feel like you're being strangled and hit on the head with a brick underwater, so Robinson and Arkham Horror series are one of my most beloved games. I should give HoH a try at some point.
Also, you reminded me I should give The Magnificent another try, as I was not in the euro mood when I played it the first time.

[@JAlanRykerGames]

Oh yeah, if you like a constant slide into misery along with a unique historical setting, this is absolutely a game for you.
You know, with the Magnificent, I enjoy the aesthetic so much, and find the gameplay pleasant, but if someone didn't find it engaging, I wouldn't argue with them.

[@Wonderflonium]

Great video, appreciate the detailed analysis!

[@buddhawasright]

The Kickstarter for this had a PnP option, which I opted for. A bit of a bigger project for a PnP that I usually do, but it turned out good. This game has a lot of decisions to make and I think of it as what I might play instead of Robinson Crusoe, which I find to be more punishing than this one. Furthermore, I think the theme for this spoke to me a lot more than most euros. An uncouth philistine such as myself just can't get into saving endangered species, medieval farming, or plotting trade routes in a third-world country. OveralI, a good game with a lot of choices to make but not as hard to navigate as most euros or wargames I have learned.

[@JAlanRykerGames]

Maybe it's growing up in rural Kansas, but farming is the one regular Euro theme I find engaging. Otherwise, I am totally with you. How does mushrooms become a year-long obsession in the board game industry? It's so random. Or games that just have the name of a city. Definitely happy for people who enjoy it that there's plenty of choice, but please make more with a bit more intense themes.
Man, you do real pnp. I will print some cards, make some tokens, but this would be beyond me. With the way prices are headed, though, I might have to up my skills.

[@Biodelic]

In my opinion, when it doesn't spiral out of control, or when you are ok with it being a highly probable part of the game, and when you are ok with the underwhelming end of game resolve; then it is a really fun and challenging game.
It never established a "wargame" feel for me. Yes, it does of course have the historical theme and it manifests it in many elements of gameplay but it never felt like a wargame to me. It's all way to steril and void of a perceivable human elements. I am not entirely sure how to precisely explain this notion.
I had good and sometimes infuriated fun with it and then sold it off.
Edit: Instead of Halls of Hegra, I would recommend a "Hill of Doves".

[@JAlanRykerGames]

I think the only game I've played that feels similar to Halls of Hegra is Pavlov's House, maybe superficially because of the tower defense and trying to send resources (it's been awhile). Thanks for the wargamer perspective, and the recommendation

[@Biodelic]

@@JAlanRykerGames Pavlov's house? Never heard of it. Thanks for bringing it up, I am off to research. 😁
Edit: Ooh, thank you very much for the tip.