Disney Lorcana TCG: Illumineer's Quest - Palace Heist
Publisher: Ravensburger
Release Date: June 6, 2025
MSRP: $59.99
Format: Boxed Board Game Expansion for TCG
Number of Players: 1 to 2
Product #: B0DFW7N2D4
Age Rating: 8+

ICv2 Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5

This is an interesting concept for expanding a relatively standard collectible card game into something more resembling a board game in play.  The main things that it adds are the ability to play a solo mode and a well-developed system for playing a co-op version of the game against an automated villain.  In this case, the villain is Jafar, from the Aladdin feature film, but the heroic characters in the player decks are from all over the Disney movies and TV properties.

The components are very nice, artistically, with a board that is designed to keep the villain components organized in front of the player or players.  The back of that board is fully illustrated, just for appearance, and the box contains an organizer which is almost perfect.  Oddly, it doesn't have a good way to store the rules or the two oversized cards, which end up sliding around in the box.

The game is not a good entry point for new players.  Instead of a full set of rules for Lorcana, this box contains a set of rules for the boxed set which assume full knowledge of the Lorcana rules.  The included rules set here is basically designed to teach the differences between the normal card game and the rules of play for this scenario.  Also, the scenario, with adjustments for different player counts and different player skill levels, is challenging enough that it may be discouraging for players not already very experienced at the basic game.  This is especially true for the solo mode, as several of the cards in the player decks are designed to work best in co-op mode.

Some potential buyers will wince at the game's price, which is high partly due to the full-color printing used for things like the back of the board and the inside of the box top.  The basic Lorcana set was also somewhat expensive, though, so experienced players will not have as much sticker shock.  The idea that you can expand this 1-2 player game by up to two more players is a bonus, but those players must have their own decks, and normal decks for Lorcana play might not be optimized for co-op play.  On the other hand, the decks included in this game are not optimized, either.  If a character is designed to work in tandem with another character who is not included in the deck, players may be frustrated.

Oddly, one of the included decks revives a Disney-related philosophical debate, with Pluto (a dog), Bolt (a dog superhero) and Goofy (an anthropomorphic dog) working together.  All three are good, but Goofy is clearly the star of the deck.  The other included deck in the copy received was heavily based on Frozen, and seemed better matched as a set for fans to get into the setting of a story.

Other collectible card games, including Magic: The Gathering and Star Wars Unlimited, have been experimenting with multi-player formats, so the idea of Lorcana doing the same is not unusual.  The cost for what amounts to a single scenario for multiple styles of play is a minor drawback.  This boxed set may be best suited to purchase in a setting where a group of established Lorcana players want to expand on their game experience.

--Nick Smith