Some Imagination, huh?

INTRO

Before we begin, allow me to get straight to the point: I really, like Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances. Like, really, really like it.

That being said, to truly understand and appreciate a game like Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances, you have understand its origins. Simply put, this board game takes its inspiration from a similarly named mobile game from over 3 years ago. Still with me? Great!

I was introduced to Disney Sorcerer’s Arena back in March of 2020. The free-to-play app had a lot going for it, aside from releasing just as everyone was stuck in their houses for weeks-on-end. The game sported a distinct visual style, a unique roster of Disney characters, and deep strategic gameplay. That formula was enough to keep me hooked for quite some time. Alas, after a while, the grind of free-to-play mobile gaming started to outweigh the fun for me, and I parted ways with the app. I didn’t think much about the mobile game after that, though I was surprised when I discovered a board game adaptation- Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances, roughly two years later.

Now, in the world of board games, adaptations like this are a common sight. Games based on various intellectual properties often dominate board game shelves, and for good reason. Beloved movies, television shows, and even video games make excellent inspiration for tabletop experiences. When an iconic character or event is captured perfectly in its translation to cards and dice, the result is immensely satisfying. While several games honor their source material well, it is rare when a game can also transcend it. Let me tell: Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances is one of those games.

THE STORY

                The story of Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances has its players taking on the role of dueling magic wielders, summoning versions of Disney characters to their team. This may sound similar to other Disney games on the market (Note: Sorcerer’s Arena did it first!), but it provides a succinct and engaging explanation as to why your Mickey might be fighting your opponent’s Aladdin.

THE CHARACTERS

                The base set comes with a roster of 8 characters, and it probably isn’t the line-up that you’d expect: Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, Gaston, Maleficent, Aladdin, Ariel, Dr. Facilier, Demona (Yes, you read that correctly), and Sulley. It’s a fun mixture of characters: a balanced blend of good and evil that provides a ton of variety for team building.

                More importantly, each character has their own unique playstyle that feels very true to themselves. There are frontline attackers like Gaston, who can overwhelm an opponent with brute force (sometimes to his own detriment), and Sulley, a tank who intimidates the other team while protecting his friends. Characters like Aladdin can move around the board quickly and “pick the pockets” of his opponents, while Dr. Facilier likes to lurk back in the shadows and periodically turn people into frogs.

                After several playthroughs, I wondered how the designers crafted these characters. Did they find a fun play mechanic first then match it with a suitable character, or did they decide on a character to include first and develop around them? My guess is probably a little bit of both, but regardless, it is evident that these characters were thoughtfully designed. Building your team always feels rewarding, whether you are trying to go for a specific strategy or just playing with your favorite characters.

THE PIECES

Setting up a game is an experience in and of itself, filled with magical touches. The box is designed after the sorcerer’s chest, which is featured prominently in the intro of the mobile game. Inside, all the components similarly mimic the mobile game’s slick style. Turn trackers and status tokens fit together like cleverly constructed puzzle pieces.

Cards feature colorful imagery and are not overloaded with text, making them easy to understand. Each card also informs the player of how many copies exist within their deck – a nice touch for those trying to plan a few steps ahead.

The standout, however, are the character game pieces. Used to represent a character’s position on the board as well as track their health points, these pieces display the characters on transparent, sturdy plastic. Both the character’s front and back are printed on their respective sides, so all players can get a dynamic view of their characters squaring off against one another. Even the bases are unique to each character, adding to their personality. Gaston looks like he was summoned from his tavern, while Sulley looks like he just stepped off the Scare Floor. The pieces feel like collectibles in and of themselves, and, personally, I keep them displayed on my bookshelf in between matches.

Once laid out, these elements all come together to make a game that is as much fun to watch as it is to play. With that in mind, a quick word of advice: while the finished set-up is stunning, the game does take up a decent amount of table space, so make sure you have plenty of room to summon your characters!

THE GAMEPLAY

Each team must maneuver around the board, capturing spaces and knocking out opponents for points. The sorcerer to first score 20 points wins the game. Each game I have played has taken just a little over half an hour. Scoring starts slow, but quickly ramps up as the game progresses.

While positioning was important in the mobile game, allowing for full mobility adds a whole new layer of depth. This combination of board movement is supplemented with a card system, allowing you to draw, play, and even upgrade your character’s unique moves. The card system allows each character to play differently, as well as providing a nice blend of randomization, strategy, and element of surprise. The size of each deck is very well tuned: small enough to predict what cards might be coming next, while also allowing each play session to feel like a different experience.

The game’s greatest strength is perhaps its versatility. This is exemplified in the Sorcerer’s Handbook, which acts as the rulebook for the game. At first glance, the handbook can make the game feel quite intimidating. (“It has chapters. Why does a rulebook have chapters?!”). What is happening, however, is that each chapter guides the players through a different version of the game. Chapter 1 has the players introduced to the core gameplay, with each subsequent chapter gradually adding some new mechanic. The differences between these chapters are clearly highlighted, so you can quickly reference what is different in each version. This is fantastic, not only because it allows players to learn all the aspects of the game at their own pace, but it allows you to adapt the game to who is playing. While the full version of the game is recommended for players ages 13 and up, I played with a 7-year-old sorcerer who thrived with one of the earlier versions of the rules. What is more, the Sorcerer’s Handbook even gives instructions on how to set up 2v2 matches, allowing more friends and sorcerers to jump into the fray.

CONCLUSION

                From the moment I first tried this game at this year’s Gen-Con, I knew I was going to add it to my collection. Since then, I have played countless times and am just excited for my next rematch as I was my first play session. The excitement the game can generate is contagious. We now take turns, play cards, and describe moves with the same energy and imagination as a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. This isn’t simply a well done adaptation of a mobile game. This takes its inspiration and flies with it – creating a unique experience that made me forget its mobile source material even exists. Indeed, Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances is a game that I can’t recommend highly enough.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

                Luckily for us and for any other aspiring sorcerers out there, the game (at the time of this writing), has 4 available expansions, adding more characters to grow your alliances with. Our friends at The OP Games have even been kind enough to provide review copies of those expansions, and we will be highlighting each one on this blog very soon!

WHERE TO BUY

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances (Core Set) retails for $39.99 and can be found at retailers like Amazon.

Order: Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliance (Core Set) (Amazon)

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