Mindscape and Markt+Technik have recently launched the video game adaptation of the classic board game, Labyrinth, which is now available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Staying faithful to the original Ravensburger board game that is known and loved in its many incarnations, Labyrinth comes to life in the digital realm, challenging players to navigate shifting passages and collect treasures. We checked out the game on a PlayStation 5.
The board version is a true classic that even players who’ve never played it will probably recognize as something they’ve seen advertised or at a toy store. In it, you step into a labyrinth, where your quest for treasures isn’t the sole challenge. The enchanted maze can surprise players with sudden shifts in walls, though this enchantment can also work to their advantage by opening up new paths. By shrewdly manipulating cards and pushing walls out of the way, players can swiftly approach the treasure and/or even entangle their fellow competitors. Victory ultimately belongs to the one who manages to gather the most treasures while doing so. The rules are straightforward, the gameplay is clear, and it’s a great way to enhance spatial awareness.
The digital counterpart of the board game impressively mirrors the principles, design, and even visual style. It genuinely feels like playing the physical game on screen, and while you can engage in single-player matches against virtual opponents, the true magic unfolds when playing on a console with 2 to 4 players. However, one significant drawback arises, as in the digital version, the cards indicating which objects or treasures to seek cannot be concealed and frequently appear prominently on screen for others to see. It’s challenging to expect other players to look away, and this often leads to more intense gameplay, as you know exactly what your opponents are after and can easily obstruct them. The use of a companion app would have been a great option here, and is a missed opportunity.
And while the faithful adaptation of the board game may please die-hard fans, it’s a little disappointing that they didn’t do more with the power of today’s consoles to deliver more engaging animations and visuals. Moving pieces, grabbing treasures and making dramatic shifts in the environment would have all represented great opportunities for visual drama, but instead the experience feels akin to looking at a table with a board on it, with a 3D piece to navigate the board. This can become a little uninspiring after a while, although fortunately there’s a choice of different board designs and styles corresponding to various physical versions available in stores – while is a great touch.
Opting for the digital version of Labyrinth saves shelf space, but it does miss the element of being able to hide your mission cards like you would in the physical variant. The game also adheres so faithfully to the board game that it offers virtually no added value in comparison beyond having a handful of different visual layouts, which is a missed opportunity. On the plus side, the digital version allows for solo play against AI opponents, but as with any board game this one’s more fun when played together. If you have a choice between systems, we’d recommend going for the Switch version – allowing you to play while traveling. Otherwise, you might as well play the board game while you’re at home.
Score: 6.5/10
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