Unmatched – Cobble & Fog

Unmatched: Cobble and Fog is an expansion and standalone game in the ever-growing Unmatched series from Restoration Games and Mondo. The basic premise is simple- fighters from different eras and genres pitted again each other in a card duelling head-to-head battle. Cobble and Fog adds four characters from Victorian literature to the mix: Sherlock Holmes, The Invisible Man, Dracula and Dr Jeckyll. Each fighter has their own deck of thirty beautifully illustrated cards which they will use to attack, defend or “scheme” against their opponent. They also have a stylish miniature that you can paint, although, to be honest, the shaded models look highly thematic in moody black and white. A double-sided playing board is also included, adding a subtle extra challenge to the battle depending on whether you choose Victorian London, or the Baskerville mansion. Working out which board favours which fighter is part of the fun.

What makes Unmatched stand out is the simplicity of the rule set combined with the surprising level of tactical variety each fighter provides. Playing as Dracula feels very different from playing as Holmes and Watson. The decks are highly thematic and their attacks and schemes suit the fighters in clever ways. The Invisible Man, for example, can disappear off the board for a turn at a time, while Holmes has a Scheme that allows him to discard a card from his opponent’s hand if he successfully “deduces” its value. Despite this, Unmatched: Cobble and Fog is simple to learn and teach. The basic rules will take 15 minutes and once you know how to play one fighter, you can play all of them across the unmatched system. But mastering each character, learning their best cards and working out who is stronger against whom, is a different matter and will likely take you many hours to even scratch the surface.

Cobble and Fog is not the first set in the Unmatched series but don’t let that put you off. There is something here for Unmatched novices or experts alike and the four fighters included are varied enough to offer many hours learning how to master their playing styles without ever having to purchase another expansion. But don’t be too surprised if you suddenly find yourself lying awake wondering how Dracula would fair against Daredevil, Bigfoot or even a T-Rex. This is a game that has a habit of getting under your skin. Luckily, Unmatched has got you covered.

Players: 2-4 players

Time: 20-40 mins

Age: 9+