Hellboy: The Board Game

Setting up Hellboy: The Board Game begins by selecting an B.P.R.D. case file card, which dictates the challenge rating, duration, and specific scenario rules. Players assemble the board layout by placing room and door tiles corresponding to the case file instructions. Next, the deck of doom is constructed using core icons and scenario-specific cards. Encounter cards are distributed across non-starting rooms, and minion slots are prepared with appropriate enemy figures based on the player count. Finally, agents are placed in the starting area, and tracking markers for doom, information gathered, and target priority are positioned on the headquarters board.

The primary objective is to investigate supernatural occurrences by exploring rooms, uncovering clues, gathering information, and managing mounting doom. Players must balance exploration and combat efficiency to prepare their agents before triggering the inevitable final confrontation against the scenario's major threat or boss monster.

During a turn, agents spend actions to move through rooms, attack monsters, investigate clues, or recover from damage. After the agents take their turns, the game advances through enemy activation and doom progression phases, where enemies attack and the doom track creeps closer to triggering critical narrative events.

Success is not determined by traditional victory points, but rather by successfully resolving the case file's investigation and overcoming the final boss during the confrontation phase.

The game concludes when the impending doom track reaches its final limit, all agents are incapacitated simultaneously, or the investigation naturally reaches its scripted confrontation stage, initiating the ultimate boss battle.