New Game Round-up: Two for 2018 — Seventh Cross and Street Masters

The year is 1920. Beneath the surface of society, an ancient and enigmatic Church suppresses knowledge of the supernatural to protect the greater good of humanity and retain its grip on the world. Vast conspiracies with unknown ends move in the shadows — secret societies and ancient empires — and they seek to restore the lost, mystical power of ages past. Dark magic breeds monsters within the hearts of men, which break through to the surface and consume them. It falls to the hunters of the Church to destroy these monsters before they come to light.

Take on the role of a Church Hunter, a sworn defender of the world against the forces of darkness, in Seventh Cross and delve into the heart of evil as you explore your way through ever-changing castles filled with unique narrative. Meet mysterious and treacherous characters, do battle with terrible monsters, and confront the darkness in your own soul as you walk the narrow line between the pursuit of power and its ultimate cost.

Seventh Cross is a rogue-like exploration game for 2-6 players that combines elements of paragraph adventure games like Tales of the Arabian Nights and exploration elements like Betrayal at House on the Hill together to form a Castlevania/Bloodborne/Helsing sort of narrative adventure.

Warriors from around the world, known for their legendary fighting abilities and skills, receive mysterious invitations to participate in a martial arts tournament like no other. Those who go have their own reasons or agendas, maybe as simple as the prize itself or maybe a vendetta against the organization and other contestants themselves.

During the tournament, the organization hosting the event reveals their identity — The Kingdom — and that their purpose is to recruit the fighters to join their militia and take over the world. Those who do will be rewarded with power, while those who don't will be enslaved and "turned" into a minion. Death, riots, and a battle ensue. While several of these warriors made it out in time, many were never heard from again.

Five years later, those who escaped receive an invitation, this time by a government organization created by the United Nations in order to prevent catastrophic events. Dubbed the Street Masters, they are informed that the The Kingdom has waged war against the world instrumentally caused the break out of several criminal organizations who have decided to divvy up each country for themselves, while under their umbrella. The warriors must work together to try to save what’s left of the world before The Kingdom launches their end game.

Street Masters: Rise of the Kingdom is a 1-5 player, miniatures board game that includes several chapters that lead you to different acts, depending on how victorious (or not) you are. Gameplay utilizes highly detailed miniatures, cards, dice, and dashboards that incorporate a modular design for extensive replay. Designed by Adam Sadler and Brady Sadler, the game offers both a Story Mode and a arcade-like Showdown Mode.