HeroQuest - Companion App 9+

Amazing so far…

My kids are finally at an age where I thought they could try Hero Quest. I have the original from my childhood with all original pieces. This app works great with my original because I assume the new version of the game is almost exactly the same.

The only thing I noticed is, there is (so far) one monster I didn’t have in my original that is in the new one. Also, there’s more characters which wouldn’t be so bad if I had mini figures to match. I think it would be amazing if the app developers could make another selection possible when choosing which game you’re playing. I’d love to be able to select that I have the original game set with all original cards and figures. I bet this is a rights issue, but one can dream…

Needs Work

The end turn button is just there to make you feel better. It doesn’t really add much functionality or make you feel like it’s does anything. Both apps are designed for phones. The google version is unusable on a chrome book even when it doesn’t crash out, because it scrolls instead of moves your tokens. There is no Windows app. I’d prefer to play on something large like a laptop or Surface. Using anything but a Phablet makes you fat thumb what you intended to do. The attack action needs more functionality than a tutorial of how to roll dice. On that, the app could really use a dice roller and the ability to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi link to other phones. It would be nice to track your character sheets and inventory, etc via the app. The existing tiny character sheets get chewed up by an eraser. The app would be better if it could link up like You Don’t Know Jack and then have the DM play from a laptop while the heroes join on their individual phones, iPads, tablets, surface, etc. The app is salvageable, but pretty garbage at launch. I’ll modify my review as they improve.

Developer Response ,

We appreciate your feedback and have made numerous improvements since launch. Please update to our latest build, version 1.4, which now includes tablet mode (enabled in the settings menu), fixes to the token drag issue experienced on some devices, performance optimizations, and additional quest books since our launch. While these updates do not address all of your disappointments noted above (multi-device connection, digitally centric management approach), we hope you give HeroQuest Companion app another shot and stick with us as we make improvements.

Decent start to this app, but needs updates

The app as I mentioned is off to a decent start, but it could use some updates for the following.

1.) when using on an iPad in particular, it could benefit from being in landscape mode. In portrait mode its not ideal for iPad to be in, and also if you cast to tv like I do, it would be nice if it filled the entire screen.

2.) Actions - You can continuously take actions which to new people playing may confuse them into thinking they can take more actions because the app lets you.

3.) movement - It appears you can keep moving around as much as you like. It should limit to what dice can give you and only be more if a spell has been used to allow extra movement.

4.) New Knight - the commander of the guardian knights need to be added in. Some have already gotten their characters so this app will need to keep up with the releases as best it can. I’m rather excited to try the knight!

The rest overall is fine and again if you come from playing Heroquest and rules you can overlook the issues above and actually help keep things honest with your party.

This app again is off to a great start, and I am sure future updates will help polish and enhance gameplay. Looking forward to the next app update!

Developer Response ,

We have added Tablet Landscape mode in V 1.3. Toggle this feature on in the settings menu and let us know if this improves the app experience for you. 

We really appreciate your request for digital tracking and an app-enforced play approach. For launch, the traditional character sheet tracking was intended to free up any non-app players to directly manage their hero - if only one player maintained control of the app for the table. Movement is left open to account for potential equipment modifiers tracked outside of the app (extra Movement die roll for example). In order for Zargon to properly enforce movement, full hero equipment tracking is required forcing all players into the app-tracking method. It's great though, to get a strong vote for this play method!

Thanks again for the feedback. Please stay with us as we keep improving the app with updates!