Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons Review

I don’t remember cooperative games being a mainstream option when I was a kid. There were games where you were out to beat the other people at the table, or you’re wheeling two cars worth of pink and blue pegs around a Life board. But that could have just been the games available to me. This might surprise you, but I did not grow up in a board game heavy household. We were a staunch card game family. 

One way or the other, though, cooperative games are here now and in a big way. The latest one added to the game shelf downstairs is Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons. This cooperative game is put out by Ravensburger Games and found in stores such as Target.

For any readers like me, who were dying to see Wonder Woman 1984, we’re going to have to go on waiting a little bit longer to see Diana back in action on the big screen. But, with this game, Diana is back in action on our kitchen tables. Diana and the Amazons must defend Themyscira against the forces of Area, Circe, and the Cheetah. Luckily, not all at the same time. At the beginning of gameplay, you select which of the three villains you and your compatriots will face off. Each having their own unique challenge. And by challenge, I mean ass-kicking. At least, that’s how I feel after our most recent adventure.

Challenge of the Amazons is designed for two to five players. Honestly, there aren’t enough two player-friendly games, in my opinion. Your choices for characters are Diana, Artemis, Nu’bia, Mala, and Philippus. Each character has a unique trait to assist with the quest at hand, so choose wisely. Who am I kidding? You get to be an Amazon for 45 to 60 minutes. There is no wrong choice. But I suppose from a strategy perspective, there might be better choices than others.

Strategy is a big part of this game. This is probably why the game has a “best for ages 10 and up” recommendation. It depends a lot on the kid in question, so give it a try if you feel confident. But I don’t think there will be many kids under 10 up for this. 

At the start of each round, players need to collectively develop a course of action based upon the face-up cards dealt to them. In most cases, there will only be two up in front of each character. Everyone will eventually get dealt three additional cards, but your plan is contrived from only two of your five cards. You and your fellow Amazons can’t talk about what’s in your hand after receiving additional cards. 

Each character will then have to decide on their three actions from the full hand dealt and place them face down in front of them. The three selected cards are placed in the order they should be played. The villain takes their turn after all action rounds are completed, and damage to the Amazons has been assessed.

Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons is a great way to spend an evening. Even as I sit here dedicated to writing about it, I want to grab the box and head up to the table to set it up for play. I have no doubt, this game is going to become a go-to game around our house.

I am curious to see how gameplay changes with more than two people are seated at the table. I feel that this will end up much like Death on the Cards once we have other people playing along. This curiosity will obviously have to wait, given the current state of the world. I can’t see any way for this game to be played over a Zoom session. But if we come up with something, I will definitely share.

The way the rounds are structured provides an excellent vehicle for teamwork with the strategic planning phase but holds something back for individual problem-solving. Adam and I came up with many good plans for our actions but often had to change directions on the fly once we received our full hand of cards. Sometimes that worked, and sometimes not so much.

I wouldn’t say this game is for everyone. But it is a must-have for any gamer who enjoys the mental hurdles a strategy game provides.