‘Clank! Catacombs & Underworld Expansion’ Board Game Review
Clank! Catacombs, designed by Paul Dennen and published by Renegade Games, is the latest evolution of the Clank! series, and it represents a bold step forward for a franchise that has already carved out a reputation as one of the most accessible and entertaining deck-building adventure games. Where the original Clank! and its expansions offered fixed boards with branching paths, Clank! Catacombs introduces a modular tile system that transforms every play into a unique dungeon crawl. It’s a change that feels both completely logical and breathes new life into a system that was already beloved.
The premise remains familiar: players are adventurers delving into a dragon’s lair to steal artefacts and escape alive. Each turn, you play cards from your deck to generate movement, combat, and skill points, which allow you to explore, fight monsters, and acquire new cards. The twist, as always, is the titular “clank” – AKA the noise you make while adventuring. Too much clank draws the dragon’s attention, and as the game progresses, the dragon attacks more frequently, threatening to knock players out before they can escape.
What makes Clank! Catacombs stand out is the modular dungeon. Instead of a static board, players reveal tiles as they explore, creating a labyrinth that grows organically. This system adds unpredictability and replayability, ensuring no two games are alike. It also introduces new mechanics, such as locked passages and shrines, which add variety and tactical depth. The sense of discovery is palpable: you never quite know what lies beyond the next corridor, and the dungeon feels alive in a way the fixed boards never quite managed.
The tile system also changes the pacing. In earlier Clank! games, routes were known from the start, and players could plan their paths with precision. In Clank! Catacombs, exploration is riskier, and players must adapt on the fly. This creates moments of tension and surprise, as a newly revealed tile might open a shortcut, present a dead end, or unleash a dangerous new situation for the players to navigate. For me, this unpredictability is the game’s greatest strength, capturing the spirit of adventure more vividly than any previous instalment.
Mechanically, Clank! Catacombs retains the tight deck-building core that makes Clank! so approachable. The starting deck is weak, but as you acquire new cards, your options expand, allowing you to chain combos, mitigate clank, and accelerate your progress. The balance between pushing deeper for better treasures and retreating to safety remains central, and the dragon’s escalating fury ensures that greed is always punished. The game’s arc – from cautious exploration to desperate escape – is as satisfying as ever, but the modular dungeon makes it feel fresher and more dynamic.
The production is excellent. The tiles are sturdy and well-illustrated, capturing the atmosphere of a dark, twisting catacomb. The artwork is consistent with the series’ playful tone, blending fantasy adventure with humour. The components are clear and functional, and the modular system is easy to manage, with tiles sitting neatly alongside each other as the dungeon expands. It is, as ever with tile-based games, a bit of a pain to have to manage these tiles at times because they do move, but it’s not the end of the world here.
Replayability is one of Clank! Catacombs’ strongest selling points. The modular dungeon ensures variety, and the card market offers different synergies each game. Combined with the inherent tension of the clank system, this makes the game endlessly engaging. It’s easy to teach, quick to play, and yet full of meaningful decisions. For new players, it’s a perfect entry point; for veterans, it’s a refreshing twist on a familiar formula.
For me, Clank! Catacombs succeeds because it captures the essence of adventure. The unpredictability of the dungeon, the escalating threat of the dragon, and the constant push-pull between greed and survival create a narrative arc that feels both exciting and memorable. It’s a game that generates stories – of daring escapes, tragic collapses, and unexpected discoveries – and that’s what makes it special.
Turning briefly to the latest expansion, Clank! Catacombs: Underworld, my opinion is a bit more mixed. The expansion introduces new tiles and cards, expanding the variety of the dungeon and adding fresh wrinkles to gameplay, which I like. However, while it adds more content, it doesn’t fundamentally change the experience. At the moment, I would say that it’s “okay” rather than essential, and that’s because the base game already offers significant replayability. For those who love Clank! Catacombs and want more variety, Underworld is a welcome addition, but it may not be necessary for casual players who are still enjoying the richness of the core set.
Clank! Catacombs is a triumph of iterative design, breathing new life into a beloved series with its modular dungeon system. It retains the accessibility and tension that made Clank! a hit, while adding unpredictability and replayability that elevate it further. Underworld expands the experience without redefining it, making it a solid but non-essential addition. Together, they showcase why Clank! remains one of the most entertaining deck-building adventures on the market.
