Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Command an asymmetric occult order, recruit and sacrifice villagers, and corrupt Pendle Hill through worker placement and hidden taint.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Worker Placement
Commit limited workers to action spaces before opponents occupy them.
Auction/Bidding
Bid against other players to determine who receives an item, action, or priority.
Hidden Victory Points
Some scores remain concealed until a reveal or the end of the game.
Take That
Use Take That as a recurring structure for player decisions and resolution.
Solo / Solitaire Game
Provide rules and objectives designed for a single player.
Read the full game description
Dark Blood casts each player as a distinct occult leader competing for influence across Pendle Hill. Cultists are placed into contested village locations to gather followers, ingredients, and opportunities for ritual work; recruited villagers can become workers, resources, or sacrifices. Personal boards unlock stronger actions as each order develops, while area influence and hidden taint make opponents difficult to read. After five rounds, completed rituals, controlled spaces, upgrades, and secret corruption determine which cult has most effectively bent the community to its will.
