Dungeon Keepers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Morcar/Zargon is a former apprentice of Mentor, as stated in the game manual. The parchment text in the game is read aloud from Mentor's perspective, framing the quests as a narrative from the mentor to the heroes. The game system allows the gamemaster to create dungeons of their own design through using the provided game board, tiles, furnishings and figures. Several expansions have been released, each adding new tiles, traps, and monsters to the core system; the American localization also added new artifacts. In the 2021 remake, Games Workshop branding and intellectual property was removed, with all art replaced; the 'Chaos' moniker changed to 'Dread' in all instances; miniatures all received new sculpts; and the Fimir monsters replaced by the fish-based Abomination monsters.

In Their Own Story

In a 1989 interview, designer Stephen Baker agreed that the game was too easy if the players all cooperated, but explained that 'The game is really aimed at 10–12 year olds who play with their mums and dads. My feeling is that they play in a very competitive, rather than co-operative way.' The game consists of a board and a number of individual miniatures and items. The protagonists are four heroes ('Barbarian', 'Dwarf', 'Elf' and 'Wizard') who face a selection of monsters: Orcs, Goblins, Fimir, Chaos Warriors, a Chaos Warlock (which represents many of the named characters for the various quests, such as Sir Ragnar and the Witch Lord), a Gargoyle and a number of Undead: skeletons, zombies and mummies.

Reader's Guide

The gamemaster, called Morcar in the United Kingdom and Zargon in North America, controls the monsters and manages the dungeon. The game manual describes Morcar/Zargon as a former apprentice of Mentor, and the parchment text is read aloud from Mentor's perspective. Morcar/Zargon can create dungeons of their own design through using the provided game board, tiles, furnishings and figures. Several expansions have been released, each adding new tiles, traps, and monsters to the core system; the American localization also added new artifacts. In the 2021 remake, Hasbro Gaming bought the HeroQuest trademark from Moon Design Publications in September 2020. The crowdfunded campaign offered two pledge tiers, Heroic or Mythic. Supporters who pledged for the Heroic Tier would receive the HeroQuest Game System with both expansion packs Kellar's Keep and Return of the Witch Lord. Included were three quest books: Prophecy of Telor by Stephen Baker, The Spirit Queen's Torment by Teos Abadia, and The Crypt of Perpetual Darkness by Joe Manganiello.

Did You Know?

• The gamemaster is called Morcar in the United Kingdom and Zargon in North America.
• The game manual describes Morcar/Zargon as a former apprentice of Mentor.
• In the 2021 remake, the 'Chaos' moniker was changed to 'Dread' in all instances.
• The Fimir monsters were replaced by the fish-based Abomination monsters in the 2021 remake.
• Hasbro Pulse crowdfunded HeroQuest campaign achieved its $1,000,000 funding goal within 24 hours.