It’s sad to say that I totally skipped the demos of Unmatched at Origins 2019. This battle system from Restoration Games didn’t connect with me until I played my first game of Unmatched: Battle of Legends Vol 1. Since then, I’ve been so impressed with how this game plays and the variety that each character brings to the table.
If you have no idea how Unmatched plays, you can check out our video overview and playthrough.
Fighters from Another Era
Cobble and Fog is the second big box, stand-alone expansion for Unmatched. The game comes with 4 unique characters from the Victorian era, mostly sticking with literary characters that should be familiar for most everyone.
This set comes with Sherlock Holmes, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and Dracula. Initially I was excited to play as Dracula. I was shocked to find that all 4 of these fighters are amazing in their own right. Let’s take a quick look at the heroes in this set…
Sherlock Holmes comes with his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson. Sherlock is unique because his deck of cards focus on “scheme” cards that allow the player to deduce information to pack the biggest punch. Paying close attention to your opponents actions and their cards will serve this character well.
The Invisible Man has no sidekick but uses three fog tokens that have some powerful advantages. By standing on a fog token, the Invisible Man’s defense is increased by 1. Fog tokens also allow this character to move from token to token as if they were adjacent spaces. Quick movement is definitely a strength for this fighter.
Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde has become my favorite for a lot of reasons. This character is his own sidekick as he switches back and forth between his identities. He probably has the biggest learning curve because he takes damage as he maneuvers as Mr. Hyde. At the start of your turn, you can change your identity which gives you a lot of control. Mr. Hyde can deal some major damage, you just have to play your cards right.
Dracula is joined by three sisters who do his bidding and help corner their opponent. This fighter gives you opportunities to heal and even gain cards when draining your opponent in an adjacent space. Having the right hand of cards could lead to dealing double digit damage to your opponent.
I have to say, the variety in this box is fantastic. Before playing with any of these heroes, I wondered if they would feel like a re-skin of any other characters that already show up in Unmatched. Alice from Volume 1 has a big/small changing mechanic, and while Jekyll and Hyde has a similar mechanic, it feels so different. You have agency to transform at the beginning of a turn unlike Alice, yet the cards still force this change which is something you have to pay attention to.
Cobble & Fog consists of 4 characters that are so well thought out and have incredible artwork to match. The Invisible Man zooms around the board using a set of 3 fog tokens while Dracula drains your health and collects cards if you stand too close to him. Having played all these heroes I have my favorites, but there isn’t a bad fighter in the set.
Setting the Stage
This new set also comes with a double-sided board that introduces us to two new maps. The narrow alleyways and rooftops of SoHo are restrictive as you maneuver through the horizontal paths. Baskerville Manor is an indoor/outdoor space that allows players to travel through secret passageways on the property. Playing the Invisible Man on this map just gives him more opportunities to avoid an opponents attack.
As we’ve come to expect, the box art is gorgeous and the insert holds everything just right. I love the attention to detail included in the rule book. Little ads and discoloration on the pages give an Old World style that is present throughout Cobble & Fog.
With each new release, I’m impressed by how the team at Restoration Games keeps the game fresh and each fighter unique. Once you know the basics of Unmatched, learning a new fighter usually only takes a matter of a couple minutes.
Is this a Must Own?
It’s easy to say that Cobble & Fog is my favorite set so far. I love the literary connections and style of this set. It’s crazy to see how a character like Invisible Man, who has no sidekick, can hold his own against Medusa and 3 Harpies from Volume 1.
If you spend enough time with each character, you will get to know their strengths and weaknesses. Cobble & Fog is a set that you will come back to over and over. Unmatched has only been around for a year, but the content that Restoration Games has put out has already solidified this as one of my favorite games.
If you’ve already bought into Unmatched, prepare to add some great new fighters with this set. If you haven’t dug into this game yet, I would highly suggest that Cobble & Fog should be where you start!
You can find Unmatched: Cobble & Fog at your local board game shop, on the Restoration Games website or online through Amazon.
Restoration Games provided us with a retail copy of Unmatched: Cobble & Fog for this review. This in no way influenced our opinion of the game.
Highs
- 4 new characters and 2 new maps add variety to Unmatched
- Sherlock scheme cards have unique deduction mechanics
- Incredible artwork throughout
- Excellent miniature sculpts
- New gameplay elements are quick and easy to learn
Lows
- This set lacks ranged fighters
- Because the game exists, you need to spend money on it
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