Cycle of Shadows — A Fantasy Board Game of Empathy, Power & Choice
Step into the Shadow Dungeon and confront the forces that shape us all. Cycle of Shadows is a rich, story-driven cooperative board game where fantasy adventure meets the unseen rhythms of the human cycle.
Designed for 2–4 players, this immersive dungeon crawl blends intense strategy with emotional depth, inviting you to explore ancient forests, haunted ruins, and shimmering caves—all while managing inner trials that change with each turn.
Choose your archetype—Guardian, Seer, Enchanter, or Scout—and traverse a shifting map of 30 dungeon tiles, encountering creatures born from raw emotion and facing decisions that ripple across your journey. Wield powerful artifacts, support your allies, or bear your burdens alone... but know this: every choice alters the path ahead.
Will you protect the baby dragon you never planned for? Will you become the flame that holds your team together—or the fury that breaks them apart?
With stunning miniatures, custom emotion cards, cooperative quests, and branching scenarios, Cycle of Shadows is more than a game—it's a mirror. One you’ll want to explore again and again.
Your cycle begins now.
Cycle of Shadows – Deluxe Box Contents
Hero Components
4 Hero Miniatures:
The Guardian (strength & protection)
The Seer (empathy & foresight)
The Enchanter (transformation & influence)
The Scout (agility & perception)
4 Character Boards with Ability Tracks & Cycle Affinity Meters
16 Personal Tokens (conditions, power-ups, energy counters)
1 Baby Dragon Miniature (Side Quest – “The Missed Cycle”)
Creature Miniatures & Cards
30 Highly-Detailed Miniatures:
10 Major Mobs (Boss & Elite Encounters):
Menara the Red Dragon (Cycle Incarnate)
The Fearsome Wraith (Ghost Dragon)
PMDD (The Chaos Queen)
The Glutton (Insatiable Despair)
Rage Reborn (Flame of Unchecked Emotion)
The Despondent Bride (Sorrow Bound in Ritual)
Joy Taken Too Far (Delirium Elemental)
The Hollowed One (Burnout Wraith)
Fragment of the First Cycle (Lost Time Incarnate)
Guardian of the Dragon's Soul (Living Seal of Regret & Hope
20 Minor Mobs (Emotionally Aligned Creatures):
Anger Sprites, Fear Wisps, Sorrow Shades, Joy Imps, Overwhelm Ghouls
Shadowclaws, Griefbeasts, Glee Leeches, and more
30 Creature Cards, linked to Cycle Days and Emotional States, with unique attack patterns, triggers, and lore.
Decks of Power & Choice
20 Emotion Cards (5 each: Anger, Joy, Sadness, Fear)
20 Artifact Cards (healing items, protective charms, light tokens, ally gifts)
24 Quest Cards (Cooperative & Solo Trials, Dungeon Events, Moral Dilemmas)
6 Missed Cycle Cards (Trigger the Baby Dragon Side Quest or Rage Awakening)
Map & Movement System
30 Modular Dungeon Tiles:
8 Forest
7 Crystal Caverns
7 Ruined Sanctuaries
5 Special Terrain (Healing Springs, Shrines, Herb Gardens, Forgotten Camps)
3 Boss Lairs (Wraith, PMDD, Menara)
Dynamic Day Tracker Tile to follow the arc of the cycle across 30 turns
Game Tools
3 Custom Emotion Dice (6-sided – Anger, Joy, Sadness, Fear)
1 Dungeon Movement Die
1 Light Die (used during shadow phase or fear encounters)
1 Shared Cycle Board (track buffs, group progress, and emotional tide)
40+ Tokens:
Light/Shadow
Health & Energy
Debuffs (Paralysis, Exhaustion, Overwhelm)
Buffs (Clarity, Resilience, Empathic Bond)
Soul Fragments (used in final battles or healing rituals) Printed Materials
Cycle of Shadows Rulebook (full color, indexed)
Game Scenario Booklet (12 Unique “Cycle Journeys”)
Quick Reference Card (double-sided)
Hero Backstories & Symbolism Guide
Lore Scroll of Cyrena – a folded narrative insert explaining the world and the deeper truth behind the cycle
| Edition | Contents | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Core game, base miniatures, standard tokens | $99 |
| Deluxe Edition (Your current vision) | All miniatures, upgraded dice, lore booklet, embossed box, premium tokens | $129–149 |
| Collector’s/Founders Edition | Painted minis, art print, signed lore scroll, foil cards, exclusive alternate “Cycle Path” tiles | $179–199 |
Gameplay Snapshot
Taylor plays the Seer. On Day 14 of the cycle, she draws an Emotion Card: Overwhelm (Fear) — her movement is halved, and her Insight checks are harder. She and Alex, playing the Guardian, enter a shadowed forest tile. Glowing eyes blink from the treeline. A Creature Card is drawn: Fearsome Wraith – Ghost Dragon.
Alex activates a light-based Artifact to weaken the Wraith’s defenses, while Taylor uses her last energy token to channel a calming aura, neutralizing her fear just long enough to roll a successful Insight check. Together, they survive the encounter—just barely—and earn a Spectral Shard, a one-time-use buff that might save them later… especially if the Missed Cycle event triggers.
Every tile, every emotion, every decision matters.