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Update – HeroQuest is Available
HeroQuest is now available at several retailers: Amazon, HasbroPulse, Gamestop, and many more. Get your copy today!
Origins
The classic game of HeroQuest is getting new life with Avalon Hill, owned by Hasbro. HeroQuest released in 1989, by Milton Bradley and Games Workshop, gained a substantial following. The core game saw several expansions over the course of the early 90’s, and then there was nothing until 2020.
HeroQuest lives on in the hearts of it’s followers. Many communities have popped up around the internet, the largest that I’ve found is Ye Olde Inn. For decades, fans have used these outlets to share ideas, debate rules, and create custom content. All the while, they are patiently waiting for new official content.
According to the New York Times, Hasbro purchased Milton Bradley in 1984. So what took them so long? Maybe it was a mistake that they lost the trademark, Maybe we’ll never know, but one thing is certain, HeroQuest is back!
Hope for the Future
Avalon Hill sent out a teaser on September 11, the page had little information, just a countdown that lead to September 22.
The very minimal web page gave rise to much speculation by fan on what to expect. Some thought it would be a video game, prompted by the ESRB logo on the bottom of the webpage. Others thought maybe a mobile app. In the back of everyone’s mind, the thought of a reprint seemed too good to be true.
On September 22, ad 12 PM ET, fans around the world watched, to see what the fuss was about. I don’t know about everyone else, but I was met with a black screen. As I franticly mashed the refresh key, I silently hoped that this wasn’t all just some sick joke. When the new page finally came up, I realized that the moment we have been waiting for decades for had finally come.
Hasbro is reprinting HeroQuest! But it’s being crowdfunded! I guess this is to be expected, they weren’t sure if they would make enough money to accomplish the task.
At first, fans were furious, it was only being made available in North America. There was also anger from Canadian fans, sure, the game is being made available to them in North America, but it would come at a premium. The shipping cost was set at $130 USD, that’s equivalent to about $170 CAD.
Eventually, the shipping costs were updated, and fans rejoiced. Then Hasbro announced that the game would be made available in other parts of the world through partners, and there was more rejoicing.
My Thoughts on HeroQuest by Avalon Hill
I can’t rightly call my self a HeroQuest fan and not back this. For me, there are two reasons that I need to back this: One, the nostalgia; and two, I lost my game years ago and have been yearning for it every since.
So far everything shown on the website has stated that it is concept work and none of it is finalized. The artwork so far definitely does not compare to the legendary Les Edwards original art. The style is very modern, and I’m not sure if I’m a big fan of that. There is just something about classic dungeon crawler art styles, it’s almost like it’s pulling you in.
There are some things about the character models that bother me a bit. The ears on the elf are ridiculous, they are just asking to get chopped off by a wayward sword swing. The weapons are way too big for my liking. Finally, the goblins, they look like they came straight out of a cartoon. Their heads are almost the same size as the rest of their body.
The thing that bothers me the most about it, it that they removed my favourite creature, the Fimir. I can understand why they did it though, they don’t want to instigate any issues with Games Workshop.
At the end of the day, these are just minor things. As long as the game plays the same way as I remember, I know that my kids and I will have a blast with it. If worst comes to worst, we can always throw the rules out the window and use our own!
See more HeroQuest content.
Planning on Getting HeroQuest
If you’re reading this before November 6 2020, you can head over to Hasbro’s crowd funding platform to reserve a copy. If you are located in Australia, you can preorder it at EB Games. In New Zealand, get your copy from Mighty Ape. From the UK, you can order yours at Zavvi.
If you are backing the project, or if you’ve gotten a copy, let me know your thoughts. I would love to have a discussion about this reprint.
As stated on the official HeroQuest webpage: The Quest is Calling!