The Night Cage by Smirk and Dagger, a Spooky Cooperative Strategy Game, 1-5 Players Lost in a Dark Maze with only a Candle, Fun Horror Themed Tile Laying and Perfect for Game Night, Adults, Teens 14+

Dark, Clever, and Incredibly ImmersiveThe Night Cage is one of the most unique and atmospheric board games I’ve ever played. The concept is simple but genius: you’re trapped in a pitch-black labyrinth with only a single candle, and the board tiles vanish behind you as you move. It creates a constant sense of tension and urgency that really pulls you in.The cooperative gameplay is tight and encourages real teamwork and strategy. Every decision matters, and the randomness keeps each game fresh and unpredictable. The art and components are beautifully eerie—moody, minimalist, and perfect for the theme. It’s especially fun with 4 players, but even with 2, the game still feels challenging and engaging.If you enjoy puzzle-like games with a horror twist and a strong sense of theme, The Night Cage is absolutely worth adding to your collection.

Very fun. It takes about an hour and a half when you’re first learning the rules and what the pieces are. Once you’ve got the rules down it takes about an hour. I recommend dimming the lights and playing the Spotify playlist that they give you on the back of the instructions. It makes you feel like you really are lost in a labyrinth.Also, getting the tutorial app they recommend and using that for the first game was really helpful.

My wife and I loved this game! Every time we play it feels like a new game! We love it!

We are still learning how best to try and win the game but I love that you can play this game with 2 people and it still be fun and challenging. We have not yet played with 5 people or the extra monsters but am ready for that challenge whenever! Would highly recommend this game and we talk about it with our friends and family alot in the 2 weeks that we've had it.The only thing I wish was built a little better or quality wise is the candle card deck. Hopefully they will do expansions for this game or a better candle holder in the future.

The Nightcage is an engaging and atmospheric cooperative board game that offers a unique blend of strategy and suspense. Here’s what I thought about it:Theme and Atmosphere: The game immerses players in a dark and mysterious setting, where teamwork is essential to navigate the labyrinthine cage. The theme is deeply engaging, and the eerie artwork perfectly complements the gameplay, creating a captivating experience.Gameplay: The cooperative nature of The Nightcage encourages players to work together, strategizing their moves while managing the limited resources available. The use of blindfolds as a core mechanic adds an intriguing layer of challenge, as players must rely on communication and memory to progress.Replayability: With randomized setups and various strategies to employ, The Nightcage offers high replay value. Each game feels different, keeping it fresh and exciting for multiple play sessions.Components: The components are of good quality, featuring durable pieces and a well-designed board. The use of the candle system for movement adds a nice touch to the overall gameplay.Room for Improvement: While the game is fantastic, it can be a bit challenging for new players to grasp the mechanics, especially with its unique elements. A more detailed rulebook with examples could enhance the initial learning experience.Overall, The Nightcage is a captivating and thought-provoking game that provides an excellent cooperative experience. With its intriguing theme and engaging gameplay, it’s definitely worth a spot on your game shelf. Four stars!

It's a fun game but pretty hard. The rules are pretty extensive. I don't think I've properly beat it once yet

Fun and unique!

I picked The Night Cage by Smirk & Dagger because its ingenious hidden-information mechanism and elegant deduction gameplay blew past the usual suspects. The set ships with over 100 pieces—including 70 crystal tokens in four colors, 4 player boards, stakes, chart cards, and secret divider—so it feels satisfyingly tactile from the moment you open the box. Learning the rules is a breeze (10–15 minutes), and I'd rate the overall difficulty as Medium: quick to grasp but richly strategic once you’ve played a few rounds. If this tickles your fancy, the Expansion adds new twists and more crystals but trust me- Definitely play the base game first. You'll thank yourself when you're ready to double down on deduction mastery.