Forget this hero crap! Time to root for the bad guys! Equip your daggers, don your cloaks, and ready your poisons: this game is all about letting out your darker side. Welcome to Tyrants of the Underdark, one of my other Origins 2016 top picks. In this D&D IP you get to control a house of nefarious Drow lords vying for control of the subterranean world. But you aren’t just mindless thugs; you’ve got some class. So round up your minions and conspirators, and let’s do some bad.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Underdark, that’s fine, it’s not a requisite for enjoyment. The game easily conveys to the players the sorts of strategies you’ll be employing: guile, conquest, malice, ambition, and obedience. Some are better in a straight fight, while others use trickery and moving targets to confound your foes. You can gain relative status by promoting your followers to your inner circle, or simply assassinating your opponent’s troops. But as fun as it might be to play the villain, the most interesting thing about Tyrants is how these aspects are conveyed through the game mechanics. Continue reading Weekly Spotlight: Tyrants of the Underdark →