Destinies occupies an unusual space in the tabletop hobby. It’s competitive where most narrative games are cooperative, app-driven where most board games are analog, and focused on individual destiny rather than shared adventure. Players explore a dark fantasy world, interact with characters, and attempt to fulfill one of two secret destiny paths before their opponents complete theirs. The companion app handles the world state, tracks choices, and reveals consequences, creating a narrative layer that would be impossible with cardboard alone.
Stories That Branch and Compete
The narrative quality impresses. Lucky Duck Games invested heavily in storylines that branch meaningfully based on player choices, and the app tracks these decisions across entire scenarios. Encountering an NPC gives you real options with real consequences, and the competitive framework means you’re racing against other players to gather the information and items your destiny requires.
Component quality matches the narrative ambition. Miniatures are well-sculpted, the modular board creates varied environments, and the overall production feels polished throughout. The artwork captures a brooding medieval atmosphere that complements the darker storylines well.
Playing with two or three people creates the best balance of competition and exploration. You see enough of the map to understand the story’s scope, other players’ movements create tension around shared NPCs and locations, and the pacing stays brisk enough to maintain momentum.
The App Dilemma
The heaviest criticism of Destinies centers on its reliance on the companion app. Almost every meaningful interaction flows through a screen, which makes some players question why they’re sitting around a table at all. The miniatures and board tiles provide physical presence, but the mechanical heart of the game lives in the app, and that tension between analog components and digital gameplay is something each group needs to reconcile for themselves.
Downtime can become an issue, particularly at three players. When one player is deep in an app interaction, making choices and reading narrative text, others wait. Lucky Duck wisely capped the player count at three for this reason, but even with that limit, watching someone else read through a story beat can test patience.
The app dependency also raises long-term concerns about game longevity. If the app stops being supported, the game becomes unplayable. Physical board games don’t face this vulnerability, and players who value permanence in their collections should factor this into their decision.
Competing for Your Fate
The competitive destiny system is what makes Destinies feel different from other narrative games. Rather than working together toward a shared goal, you’re piecing together your own path while trying to outpace opponents pursuing theirs. This creates a race dynamic that adds urgency to exploration and makes every decision feel time-sensitive.
Should You Pursue Destinies?
Players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences and don’t mind heavy app integration will find a unique competitive RPG here. Solo players can also have a satisfying experience exploring the story at their own pace. Skip it if app-dependent games frustrate you, if you prefer cooperative narrative experiences, or if downtime between turns disrupts your group’s engagement.
The Verdict on Destinies
Destinies carves out its own niche by combining competitive play with app-driven narrative in a way few other games attempt. The stories are deeply engaging, the destiny-racing creates welcome tension, and the production quality is high throughout. Its reliance on the companion app will forever divide opinion, but for players who embrace the hybrid format, Destinies delivers a narrative experience that traditional cardboard alone can’t replicate.