A Touch of Evil is a thrilling horror-adventure board game that takes players into the eerie town of Shadowbrook, where they must investigate supernatural threats and battle dark forces. Designed by Jason C. Hill and published by Flying Frog Productions, this game blends strategy, storytelling, and immersive gameplay. Whether you prefer competitive, cooperative, or solo play, A Touch of Evil offers an engaging experience filled with mystery, combat, and evolving challenges.


Game Overview

A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Board Game

A Touch of Evil is a horror-themed adventure board game designed by Jason C. Hill and published by Flying Frog Productions in 2008. Set in the early 19th century, the game transports players to the eerie colonial town of Shadowbrook, where dark forces threaten the land. Players take on the roles of monster-hunting heroes, working either competitively or cooperatively to uncover clues, battle supernatural creatures, and ultimately defeat a powerful villain before Shadowbrook succumbs to darkness.

The game is known for its cinematic presentation, featuring high-quality artwork and thematic storytelling. With its mix of strategy, exploration, and combat, A Touch of Evil offers an engaging experience for fans of horror and adventure board games.

Gameplay Mechanics

Hero Selection and Roles

Players begin by choosing from a set of unique heroes, each with distinct abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. These characters range from skilled hunters and soldiers to scholars and local townsfolk, each bringing a different playstyle to the game.

Game Modes: Competitive and Cooperative

A Touch of Evil offers two main ways to play:

• Competitive Mode: Players work independently, racing against each other to defeat the villain while managing their own resources and strategies.
• Cooperative Mode: Players join forces to defeat the villain together, sharing information and resources while facing a more challenging AI-controlled antagonist.

Exploration and Investigation

The board represents the town of Shadowbrook and its surrounding regions, including key locations such as the Manor, the Windmill, and the Abandoned Keep. Players move across the board, gathering items, interacting with NPCs, and uncovering clues to locate and weaken the villain.

Combat System

Battles in A Touch of Evil use dice-based mechanics, where players roll against the villain’s stats to determine the outcome of encounters. Heroes can acquire weapons, allies, and special abilities to enhance their combat effectiveness.

Villains and Scenarios

The game features multiple villains, each with unique abilities and challenges, such as the Vampire, the Werewolf, and the Spectral Horseman. Each villain comes with its own set of minions and events that shape the game’s difficulty and narrative.

Expansions and Variants

Over the years, A Touch of Evil has received several expansions that introduce new heroes, locations, villains, and mechanics, enhancing replayability and depth. Popular expansions include:

• Something Wicked: Adds new locations, villains, and expanded cooperative play.
• The Coast: Introduces coastal regions, sea-based encounters, and additional horror elements.
• Dark Gothic: A deck-building spin-off set in the same universe.

These expansions provide players with fresh challenges and storylines, making A Touch of Evil a highly replayable game with evolving content.

Player Experience and Appeal

A Touch of Evil is appreciated for its immersive theme, strategic depth, and cinematic presentation. Its blend of horror, adventure, and cooperative gameplay makes it a favorite among fans of thematic board games. Whether playing solo or with a group, the game delivers a tense and engaging experience, where players must balance risk, resource management, and teamwork to overcome supernatural threats.

Game Components & Setup

Game Components

A Touch of Evil is a thematic horror board game that includes various components designed to enhance the gothic horror atmosphere. The game box contains:

• Game Board – A detailed map representing the town of Shadowbrook and its surrounding areas.
• Character Miniatures & Hero Character Sheets – Each player selects a hero, represented by a plastic miniature and a corresponding character sheet detailing abilities and stats.
• Villain Sheets – These represent the main antagonist of the game, with unique abilities and effects.
• Minion Tokens & Figures – Various enemies and creatures that serve the villain throughout the game.
• Card Decks:
  • Event Cards – Provide various in-game effects and story elements.
  • Mystery Cards – Advance the storyline and introduce new challenges.
  • Town Elder Cards – Represent the influential figures of Shadowbrook, who may help or hinder the heroes.
  • Location Cards – Determine encounters in different map areas.
  • Item and Ally Cards – Provide weapons, artifacts, and companions to assist the heroes.
  • Lair Cards – Define the final showdown with the villain.
• Investigation Tokens – Used as the in-game currency to obtain items, allies, and information.
• Wound Tokens – Track damage taken by heroes and enemies.
• Dice – Used for combat and skill checks.
• Rulebook – A comprehensive guide to gameplay and mechanics.

Setup

Setting up A Touch of Evil involves preparing the game board, distributing components, and selecting characters and villains.

1. Prepare the Game Board

• Place the board in the center of the play area.
• Shuffle and place the various card decks in designated areas.
• Place investigation tokens, wound tokens, and dice within reach of all players.

2. Select a Villain

• Players collectively choose or randomly select a villain.
• Place the villain sheet in the designated area, along with associated minions and effects.
• Set up the villain’s starting influence and any relevant tokens.

3. Assign Player Characters

• Each player selects a hero and takes the corresponding miniature, character sheet, and starting items.
• Players place their miniatures in the town center (Shadowbrook).

4. Prepare Town Elders

• Shuffle and place Town Elder cards face-up on the board.
• Secretly assign hidden loyalty or corruption cards to each elder.

5. Distribute Starting Equipment

• Each player draws an initial set of items, allies, or abilities based on the game’s setup rules.

6. Determine First Player

• Players roll dice, with the highest roll determining the first player.

Once setup is complete, the game is ready to begin, with players taking turns to investigate, gather resources, and ultimately confront the villain in a final showdown.

Gameplay Mechanics

Turn Structure

In A Touch of Evil, gameplay follows a structured turn-based system where players take actions sequentially. Each turn consists of several phases:

1. Move Phase – Players roll a six-sided die to determine movement, traveling across the game board to different locations.
2. Location Phase – Players interact with locations, drawing event cards, facing challenges, or collecting clues.
3. Mystery Phase – The game’s villain and dark events are activated, introducing new threats and advancing the overarching mystery.

This structured progression ensures a blend of strategy and unpredictability, keeping players engaged throughout the game.

Character Abilities and Development

Each hero in A Touch of Evil has unique stats such as Spirit, Cunning, Combat, and Honor. These attributes influence the success of various actions, including combat, investigations, and interactions with non-player characters (NPCs). Players can improve their stats by collecting items, allies, and special abilities throughout the game.

Investigation and Clue Gathering

To uncover the villain’s identity and weaknesses, players must gather Investigation Points. These points are earned by exploring locations and defeating minor threats. Investigation Points can be spent to:

• Acquire new items and weapons
• Gain allies to aid in battles
• Uncover secrets about the villain, reducing their power in the final showdown

This mechanic encourages players to balance resource management with risk-taking.

Combat System

Combat in A Touch of Evil is resolved using dice rolls, with players comparing their attack values against the enemy’s defense. The combat sequence includes:

1. Rolling Attack Dice – Players roll a number of dice equal to their Combat stat, plus any bonuses from weapons or allies.
2. Defense Resolution – The enemy retaliates, potentially dealing damage to the player.
3. Outcome Determination – If the enemy is defeated, players earn rewards such as new items, Investigation Points, or Story Cards.

Some enemies, particularly the main villain, have special abilities that can alter combat outcomes, adding strategic depth to encounters.

Solo and Cooperative Play

The game can be played competitively, cooperatively, or solo:

• Competitive Mode – Players race to defeat the villain first, sometimes hindering each other’s progress.
• Cooperative Mode – Players work together, pooling resources and strategies to overcome shared obstacles.
• Solo Mode – A single player faces the villain alone, adjusting difficulty settings as needed.

Each mode offers a different experience, ensuring high replayability.

Villain Mechanics

The central antagonist operates through an AI-driven system, executing actions based on drawn Mystery Cards. Villains have unique abilities and summon minions to challenge the players. The villain’s strength escalates over time, increasing urgency as the game progresses.

In the final confrontation, players must use all gathered resources and knowledge to defeat the villain before time runs out, culminating in an intense and strategic battle.

These mechanics make A Touch of Evil a dynamic and immersive experience, blending mystery-solving with strategic combat and exploration.

Heroes and Villains

Heroes

In A Touch of Evil, players take on the roles of heroic investigators determined to protect the town of Shadowbrook from supernatural threats. Each hero has unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, making their choice an essential part of gameplay strategy.

Notable Heroes:

• Victor Danforth (The Playwright) – A cunning investigator with a sharp mind, Victor excels at gathering clues and uncovering the villain’s plans.
• Inspector Cooke (The Detective) – A seasoned investigator, Cooke is skilled in combat and has the ability to analyze situations quickly.
• Anne Marie (The School Teacher) – While not a fighter, Anne Marie has a deep knowledge of lore and magic, making her invaluable in solving mysteries.
• Katarina (The Outlaw) – A skilled gunslinger, Katarina is one of the strongest combatants, capable of dealing heavy damage to enemies.
• Harlow Morgan (The Inventor) – With a knack for creating useful gadgets, Harlow can craft tools that aid in both combat and investigation.

Each hero starts with unique stats, abilities, and equipment, making them better suited for different playstyles. Some excel in combat, while others focus on gathering clues or supporting the team.

Villains

The primary antagonist in A Touch of Evil is the Villain, a powerful entity that threatens the town. At the beginning of each game, players randomly select one Villain, each of whom offers a distinct challenge and requires different strategies to defeat.

Notable Villains:

• The Vampire – A powerful and elusive enemy that can restore health by draining the life force of its victims. The Vampire is particularly dangerous at night, making nighttime encounters much riskier.
• The Headless Horseman – A relentless and terrifying foe that roams the countryside, striking fear into the hearts of investigators. His speed and strength make him a formidable opponent.
• The Spectral Horseman – A ghostly rider with supernatural abilities, capable of phasing through obstacles and attacking from unexpected angles.
• The Scarecrow – A sinister entity that controls the fields and preys on the unsuspecting. The Scarecrow can summon minions and manipulate the environment to its advantage.
• The Necromancer – A dark sorcerer capable of raising the dead and corrupting the town’s inhabitants. This Villain is particularly dangerous due to its ability to summon minions and spread influence quickly.

Each Villain has unique abilities, minions, and special rules that change how the game unfolds. Players must adapt their strategy based on the Villain they are facing, making each playthrough different and unpredictable.

Minions and Henchmen

In addition to the main Villain, players must contend with various minions and henchmen that serve their dark master. These minions can include:

• Zombies – Slow but relentless, zombies are often used by the Necromancer to overwhelm heroes.
• Vampire Thralls – Servants of the Vampire, these creatures are deadly in combat and can infect others.
• Cursed Townsfolk – Ordinary citizens who have fallen under the control of the Villain, making them unpredictable threats.
• Dark Riders – Mysterious figures that serve the Horsemen, attacking heroes from the shadows.

Minions play a crucial role in the game, acting as obstacles that hinder the heroes' progress while advancing the Villain's agenda.

By balancing their efforts between gathering clues, fighting minions, and preparing for the final confrontation, players must work together to defeat the Villain before it's too late.

Strategy Guide

Understanding the Game's Objectives

In A Touch of Evil, players take on the roles of monster hunters investigating supernatural threats in the town of Shadowbrook. The primary objective is to gather clues, gain allies, and defeat the Villain before it grows too powerful or the town falls into darkness. Having a strong strategic approach will improve your chances of victory, whether playing competitively or cooperatively.

Choosing the Right Hero

Each Hero in A Touch of Evil has unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Some characters excel in combat, while others are better suited for gathering Investigation points or interacting with Town Elders. Consider the following when selecting your Hero:

• Captain Hawkins: Strong in combat but slower in movement. Ideal for direct confrontations.
• Victor Danforth: Gains Investigation quickly, making him effective at gathering information and purchasing items.
• Anne Marie: Balanced stats with abilities that help in both combat and clue gathering.

Choosing a Hero that complements your team's composition is crucial in cooperative play.

Managing Investigation Points

Investigation is the primary currency in A Touch of Evil, allowing players to buy items, gain allies, and uncover secrets. Efficient use of Investigation helps maximize effectiveness. Key strategies include:

• Spend Wisely: Prioritize purchasing weapons or allies over minor upgrades.
• Save for Vital Items: Some locations offer powerful items that can turn the tide of battle.
• Use Investigation for Movement: Spending Investigation to move strategically can help avoid Villain attacks or reach important locations faster.

Securing Town Elders

The Town Elders are influential NPCs who can either aid or betray the players. Investigating them early is crucial to identifying which ones can be trusted. Key tactics include:

• Investigate Early: Knowing who is Corrupt can prevent setbacks in the final battle.
• Recruit Allies: Trustworthy Elders provide powerful bonuses that can strengthen your Hero.
• Prevent Villain Influence: Some Elders may turn against the town if left unchecked, making the final encounter more difficult.

Preparing for the Final Battle

Once the Villain is ready to be confronted, preparation is key. Consider the following:

• Stockpile Equipment: Ensure you have weapons, allies, and healing items before engaging.
• Time Your Attack: Waiting too long can allow the Villain to grow stronger, but attacking unprepared can be disastrous.
• Coordinate in Cooperative Play: Work with teammates to combine strengths and cover weaknesses.

Adapting to Villain-Specific Strategies

Each Villain in A Touch of Evil requires a different approach. Some examples include:

• The Vampire: Drains health and spreads corruption. Stock up on healing items and Holy items.
• The Scarecrow: Causes Fear and disrupts movement. Keep a backup plan for mobility.
• The Werewolf: Strong in direct combat but weak to silver weapons. Prioritize acquiring Silver Bullets or similar items.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each Villain can make the difference between victory and defeat.

By following these strategic guidelines, you can increase your chances of success in A Touch of Evil, whether playing solo, competitively, or cooperatively.
A Touch of Evil remains a beloved horror adventure board game due to its immersive storytelling, strategic complexity, and replayability. Whether you're a first-time player or a seasoned fan, this game offers endless suspense and enjoyment. Gather your allies, sharpen your skills, and prepare to face the forces of darkness in Shadowbrook! Would you like to explore more board game strategy guides? Let us know in the comments!