The Citadel of Chaos – A classic reborn

At the beginning of December, a new version of the classic Fighting Fantasy gem – The Citadel of Chaos – arrived at the Mytago warehouse. With its hardcover binding and a heap of extra bonuses, it easily ranks among the best reissues on the market.

The Citadel of Chaos needs no introduction for experienced players. It is a gamebook for true heroes! The rules are not complicated, but to succeed, you must be the type of player who loves to scour every corner and isn't afraid of a monster slapping your fingers from the shadows. Minor text and translation tweaks are a welcome improvement. However, what I consider the best new feature of this reissue are its polished bonuses.

The Citadel of Chaos from the Perseus publishing house has been gathering dust on our shelves for nearly thirty years. Incredible. That thin little book with its typical 90s cover wouldn't stand a chance today. The Mytago edition of The Citadel of Chaos boasts not only the aforementioned hardcover and the dimensions typical for Mytago gamebooks, but also a beautiful cover with a grim, dark mood by artist Cyril Gaja.

Compared to the 1994 version, it includes an additional map of Allansia. You can pinpoint exactly where you are during the game. Fans of the FF series will quickly recognize other popular locations associated with fantastic adventures, such as the port of Blacksand, where the gamebook City of Thieves takes you, or Firetop Mountain, where the treacherous Warlock of Firetop Mountain hides.

A huge help and a new feature in The Citadel of Chaos is the map of the Black Citadel. The days when we had to draw our own maps as players to avoid getting lost in the enemy's mysterious chambers are long gone. The diligent Mytago bees have included a pre-drawn map in the gamebook. They also added a short but very interesting treatise on the dangers and traps you might encounter in the citadel.

This reissue of The Citadel of Chaos will delight every gamebook lover. It will show newcomers the magic of exploration (and often failure). For experienced players, it expands their knowledge of the elaborate lore. Now, the magical world of Allansia awaits you too.

Do you dare to enter?

author Eva Lassler