- Print and play!
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- In Search of the Dark Lady
You wander through fog-drenched streets, footsteps echoing through a city long asleep...
Somewhere in the shadows, she moves. The Dark Lady.
Elusive, whispered about, and never where you expect her to be.
“Then will I swear beauty herself is black,
and all they foul that thy complexion lack.”
The hunt begins.
Black Sonata is a print and play steeped in mystery and Shakespearean intrigue. Set in London over four hundred years ago, the game asks you to chase a woman who exists more in shadow than certainty.
For centuries, scholars have debated the identity of Shakespeare’s Dark Lady. Here, you finally get to search for her yourself!
This is a game about deduction and restraint. Each round, you gain just enough information to feel closer, yet never fully confident. You trace her movements across the city, scanning locations and piecing together fragments of truth. The tension builds ever so quietly…
An absolute standout in Black Sonata has to be its hidden movement system. The Dark Lady follows one of several possible patterns, and uncovering which one is in play becomes the heart of the puzzle. It is elegant, and super clever.
Creating a game where the antagonist feels present despite rarely being seen is no small feat, and this one pulls it off beautifully.
This is not a light game. Assembly takes time. Learning the flow takes patience. It demands focus. But the reward is worth it. From peering through keyholes to unveiling fog-covered locations, every reveal feels enticing.
To add more to my love for it, Black Sonata is free! The print and play files are available on BoardGameGeek, making this one of the most generous and refined solo experiences you can put on your table.
So, to be, or not to be?
PS: stoked to have Attio as the sponsor of this issue. 2026 is starting with a bang! 👇
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