Santa Clause is back in town in the latest Betrayal at House on the Hill board game expansion, but something seems a little... off. For starters, he doesn't normally have mangled Christmas tree arms and murder on his mind.
Unveiled at this year's Gen Con (which is the biggest annual event for board games and tabletop RPGs), this twisted Holiday experience is due to launch on November 1. Called 'Evil Reigns in the Wynter's Pale, The Yuletide Tale,' it features monstrous versions of Santa and an elf who've been hit with some sort of magical curse. In true Betrayal at House on the Hill style, they've been turned into horror tropes that will probably make life miserable for the players.
As per other Betrayal at House on the Hill expansions, this set adds new room tiles, cards, Haunt books for Traitors and Survivors, and a story prologue to what is arguably one of the best board games. Intriguingly, the elf actually comes with a character board of his own. Can you take control of him? It seems that way, but I've reached out to developer Avalon Hill to see if they can clarify.
As you may have guessed by now, you shouldn't think of this Santa as a jolly old fellow; according to the backstory offered on the rulebook, it's something of a Tim Allen 'Santa Clause' situation where someone takes over from the old St. Nick. Unfortunately for us, this Father Christmas accidentally inherited the mantle after robbing the last one, which is presumably why he looks so hideous.
Designed for the game's third edition (which we said was a "fantastic update to a beloved classic" in our Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition review), it sounds as if players will be stalked as they explore the mansion. We'll all need to watch out for their unnatural abilities, too. As the expansion's blurb says, "because of a magical mishap, the cold-hearted visitor and his henchman have assumed identities of other beloved holiday characters and have acquired numerous magical powers." We don't know what those powers will be, but it's likely that they'll change depending on the Haunt / mission you draw.
This is the second Betrayal at House on the Hill expansion for the game's latest edition; the last one, announced for Gen Con 2022, turned you into a werewolf.
If you want to preorder this new pack, you're in luck - here's where you can get it:
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