Goblin's Gold. (Gold!) ...

...

Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible --- hmm, mm, mmmhm mm...

<ahem> <ahem>

I would apologize, but I was born 5 months before Pacman.
So Spandaux Ballet references are just gonna' come out, 'ight?

Actually 'reviewed' a Holdson boardgame a post or two back.
But daresay this games got a little more something going for it than dreaded Hoodwik.

Yey hah, Goblin's Gold. Licensed by Holdson. Published by Jumbo Games, er... something like that.

2-4 players.
30 mins playtime
Ages 7+

Rules are rules, huh?
Boxshot...

Note: Goblin's Gold, also released as Magical Maze ... somewhere out there.
But I get Goblin's Gold here in Southern Hemisphere Land.

So? What would a boardgame's boxshot be without an inane summary of the playin' rules?

... you put it together, unless you're one of those lazy manipulative kids ...

... VIOLENT. MALE. TROLLS ...

While chasing the gold, Goblin the magician is constantly blocked by violent male trolls...?

That's quite unnecessarily specific.

Violent Male Trolls. Who don't pay child support.
Hopefully Holdson's gender outlining instructions resulted in a massive reduction in domestic violence... in Switzerland... that year. Yeah... hopefully.

It's charming our main protagonist is named Goblin, yet doesn't resemble the standard villianized, homogenized, pasteurised Goblin archetype prevalent in Hollywood flicks or TSR games.

Aw, he's magnetic too. Relevant to Senõr Goblin's gold trawling objectives.
 

 Folding board...

9 subterranean maze boards...

 

... perfect for fridges and rangehoods ...

1 x magnetic gold piece...

And, like, 29 violent male trolls... all screaming Kilroy Was Here...

... and your set.
(Edit: make that 30, one was hidden in a tub of cowboys and indians)

How's It Work?
Nice and simply.

... hell if you have a fear of domes ...

Randomly 'ssort your nine subterranean boards...

... no dice, chum ....

With our magnetic gold piece sitting in the centre, the randomly arranged panels have an interchangeable maze of ridges set up on the underneath ...

... board atop that, get yer Goblin on.

The magic is that when the gold playing piece 'neath the board connects to Goblin through the panel it draws his magnet and raises his arm. Hit a hidden barrier below and he drops the gold, lowers his arm. Simple, but original. And certainly enough of an angle to keep the younglings interested.

Players simply take turns shifting Gobby across the play field and when you inevitably hit a ridge...

... it's troll o'clock.

... comparatively 10'' tall. But  male. And violent. And Goblin hates to share ...

Trolls basically serve as the memory token of a previously blocked path prior to the next players turn. Fortunate, cos y'know, wizards = senility and the like.

To Win.

Get Gob's shite to your corner and you shall have towered above and beyond your peers in every way.
And you'll have a decent fridge magnet to show for it.

Ayup. That's the deal, rinse and repeat. Despite it's absurd simplicity, it's a clever gimmick, I find GG to have a decent shot at re-playability too, provided you let it sit a couple months between fireside evening blasts.

------------------

Still bugged by those trolls being pinned down as violent honestly.
- Annoying? yes.
- Path obscuring? doubtless.
- Cock-blocking? probably.
But if Gobby's afeared for his well-being, maybe he shoulda' requested a lil' back-up.

'Cos this game would be over a lot quicker if it were called Chinasaur's Gold.

Totalled.

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"Give a man a fish: and you'll feed him for a day.
"Teach a man to fish: and he'll probably join a corporate fishing giant and destroy your humble livelihood." - rihia2k.

Okay.