Climbing Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs for the First Time
Restore a regal country estate and manage the family’s budding reputation in Derbyshire society with Obsession.
It’s been almost a year. A full year! That was when I lasted played Obsession… Otherwise known as my top solo game. Despite the length of time, this only served to get me excited to try out Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs for the first time. So much content to keep exploring! I settled myself in a for a tale of the best social climbing money could buy…
Disclaimer
The upgraded Meeple Source Characters shown below were sent to me for free from Kayenta Games. So very kind! I also occasionally do photography work, although my love of this game started many years ago. Transparency, though!
Game Overview
Game Name: Obsession
Publication Year: 2018
Designer: Dan Hallagan
Artist: Dan Hallagan
Publisher: Kayenta Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
This is a game all about hosting activities, inviting guests, and improving a country estate. All the while, a solo opponent battles for the attention of the most eligible heirs of Derbyshire. Filled with thematic moments and sweeping stories, each play spans all sorts of excitement!
First Play
January 25, 2019
Complexity
3
Latest Play
October 15, 2025
Expansions
6
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
106
Play Time
50 Minutes
High Score
248
Game Area
24" x 28"
Low Score
82
Howard and the Hats
At long last, I had the opportunity to try out the Howard family! Since their unique starting cook required the expansion, I had held out on playing with them. Until now!
Perhaps most important were the hats, though. The starting guests brought them in full force, and Lady Diana wore the greatest one of them all. Fashionable and all.
It was simply lovely to go through the setup process again. I even read through the rulebooks again. I love this game!
But the new staff certainly added some intriguing elements, and I was eager to see what they could do.
A New Opponent
I was so excited to try out the next solo opponent! Although listed at the beginner difficulty level, my skills were definitely in need of some polishing.
These cards are always so fun. I could see where I might pull ahead during some courtship rounds… But it all hinged on what sorts of building tiles would show up.
All of the new staff made me want to hire each one! Yet as the Howards, they began with a cook before the draft.
I figured this would be a fairly routine waltz back into the gameplay of my favorite game. Onward to Derbyshire!
Fancy Staff Meeples
Well, hello! I enjoyed the little personalities that came through with these upgraded meeples. The standard meeples are still excellent, but these were so much fun!
I hemmed and hawed over the other starting staff choice. It might have made more sense to pick up a lady’s maid, but it was the useful man that won out. That hat!
New staff didn’t necessarily make things easier: My score was probably going to be higher, but only if I played well.
Knowing how to use each staff member was another layer to the challenge, and I couldn’t wait to dive in!
Being All Useful
The useful man served his role well! Not only was he excellent for reducing the prices of building tiles, but he had a very important role to play during the village fair.
His various skills helped make it a success, adding even more money to what the Howard family earned. Nice!
Yet these new staff members also had to rotate through service, so I had to make sure I planned ahead. The useful man was certainly prepared for this round of play!
Although this doesn’t quite make the cut as a cozy game, it’s always like an old friend. Or enemy… Gladstone!
Understanding What an Expansion is About
I went in fully knowing what I was getting into with this expansion! There was some more content in the form of guests and tiles, yet the staff provided the central element. Although nuanced, they added some complexity without interfering with the core game mechanics. That’s not always easy to do when it comes to expansions.
Some expansions are entirely about more of the same, or simply added content. Nothing wrong with those! When more variety adds to the experience, those can be some awesome experiences. Others, like this one, add something entirely new to change the base game. But the degree of that change is important. Is it too much? Too little? Confusing? Simple?
Designing a successful board game is challenging enough! Yet expansions pose their own difficulties. It’s important to stay true to the core elements of the game while still adding to it. Imagine if this expansion ruined my favorite game… The horror! Yet of course, it doesn’t. It’s finely crafted in a way that makes gameplay even more fun for veterans.
There are some discussions about adding in the expansion right from the start. If you’re new to the game, I definitely recommend starting with the base game. If nothing else, you’ll find out what the expansion brings to the table and how it adds a new decision space with the new staff. And despite it being my favorite game, I don’t want to wear it out!
A New Friendship
Oh, the fun with activities! The Howards were struggling a bit in the reptuation department, yet their trusted cook was there. She allowed guests of 1-2 prestige higher.
And so it was on a brisk autumn day that Lady Diana went for an afternoon ride with Archibald. What a striking appearance! It was like the equivalent of a fantastic hat.
I needn’t go into the specific details. I love this game. And it was still early on, while I wasn’t faring too well.
The building tiles provided some poor options at times, but I enjoyed solving the challenge of making them work!
Popcorn Trike Tycoon
My word! When an American heiress worked her way into the family’s social circle, it was a dark day, indeed. Word had it that she came from the textile industry. Horrid.
Ah, but there was another side to Carol Pendergast’s family! They were apparently also known for their famous popcorn tricycles. You can never have too many of them!
Owing to the October season, a Calico Critter showed up in costume. Ice cream cone, or popcorn kernel? You decide!
Pardon the random interruption of the popcorn tricycle, but it continues to be my favorite toy. It pop, pop, pops!
Handling an Heiress
Miss Pendergast showed up to a pheasant hunt. The family had to keep it quiet that she was around… But she brought a popcorn tricycle, and Derbyshire was utterly shocked.
Meanwhile, Lady Diana saw no reason to pursue the Fairchild heir. Her sights were set on Archibald, who was a great friend and confidante who regularly visited.
Although there was no proof, he seemed to be tied to the sudden disappearance of Miss Pendergast’s tricycle…
I’m just going to retroactively say that’s the origin story of mine. Visited Derbyshire. Sent away popping. MINE!
A Day of Fine Art
The game continued to grow, and I had plenty of options. With a reputation that continued to struggle, the cook was always paramount. American heiresses, friends! Yikes!
A lovely evening of admiring art provided a wide variety of benefits. Money was fairly limited, yet the useful man kept up his useful status as he reduced prices regularly.
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind: My love for the game hadn’t diminished at all, and I enjoyed it even more!
Well, save for the trouble with the American heiress. I wondered if Miss Pendergast might have a higher purpose.
Undesirable Contacts
Oh, dear. I was mistaken… Talk of an American heiress in the midst of the Howards’ social circle only attracted more questionable individuals! A pauper and a gossip… No, no!
Actually, Sir Angus wasn’t a half-bad individual. He had a spectacular game of billiards against Charles, a notorious gossip. Derbyshire heard of the victory… By Charles.
So the Howards weathered the storm of unsavory contacts. Elizabeth Fairchild still visited, though.
And the new carriage house proved to be quite interesting. My footman made this final event actually possible!
Happily Ever After
The country estate wasn’t the most interesting, nor even one that I particularly did well at restoring. But in the end, it was enough! The Howard family emerged victorious.
Lady Diana and Archibald made a life together, while Elizabeth Fairchild settled down at the manor. Quite a happy time for the entire Howard family, of course!
I didn’t have a chance to try out all of the new staff members, yet I saw so much more potential.
The base game was a masterpiece for me. Now? I don’t have a word to describe it, but it’s even better!
Session Overview
Play Number: 72
Expansion 1: Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs
Expansion 2: Obsession: Wessex Expansion
Accessory: Meeple Source Characters
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Standard Play with Closed Courtship
Outcome: 151-139 (Win)
In the end, Miss Pendergast made an unlikely friend in Sir Angus. Why? It was the popcorn tricycle. That thing will always be the coolest. Ha ha! All in all, this was a fantastic experience. Did I mention that I love this game?!
%
100 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
10
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
10
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
+ Pros (Positives)
- Every mechanic feels like it ties into the theme exceptionally well, weaving an ongoing story about the family.
- Activities provide all sorts of benefits, and carefully planning when to host what event for which guests is tricky.
- There is a lot of variety with the guests and building tiles so that every play feels different in some way.
- Different solo opponents provide unique challenges when it comes to pulling ahead during the courtship rounds.
- Playtime is very reasonable, typically clocking in under an hour, for a satisfying experience with lots of fun.
- Managing the staff is an interesting layer that requires insight into the current activity and future plans.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There is a certain degree of bad luck that can’t be mitigated, although part of the fun is this piece of the challenge.
- Some of the staff members require a little extra attention to fully understand the new rules the first few plays.
- With all of the expansion tiles, using the draw bag can lead to unwanted wear and some difficulty drawing a tile.
- The family portraits are the only elements that can feel a bit stale over time with just 6 families to play as.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 60%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 200 points.
Score at least 240 points.
Win at least 1 game against each base game family.
Score at least 280 points.
Win at least 1 game against each Up, Downstairs family.
Continue the Conversation
What are your favorite parts of Obsession? Have you tried out any of the expansions? It’s always been my favorite game, but this session had me reevaluate its rating… Perfect 100%! And the only game. It earned that title, and I can never explain how much joy I get from playing! Absolutely wonderful, and I’m certainly not done with Derbyshire just yet!
Wow! Nice review score! I haven’t tried the expansion yet, but looking forward to it someday.
I feel like I need to come up with a special color for that, because getting a perfect score on my scale is a tough thing to do! But after 70 plays and even more to find to love about the game, it’s definitely earned its spot. Not that it didn’t before… Yet unlike some excellent games that can get repetitive over time or feel like the challenge isn’t always there, this one keeps throwing new things my way.
There’s lots to look forward to with this expansion! It does add a little bit to the complexity, but still stays true to the core mechanics. I’ve played where I only used 1 new staff member, and in an upcoming report, I’ve also had all 4 in play. Adds new choices and strategies, yet not to the point that I feel like I’m playing something else.
Take your time, though! I got about 70 plays out of just the base game (plus Wessex) before I moved on. Looking forward to lots more plays… And then some other content, like the dynamic solo opponent. Can’t wait!
“Miss Pendergast made an unlikely friend in Sir Angus.”
Scandal! A great read as always!
The key to averting scandal in one’s household is to stir up a scandal elsewhere… Words of wisdom from the Howards during this victory. Ha ha!
Thanks so much for reading, Dan, and for an absolutely fantastic game. It now holds the dual honor of being my top solo game and the only game I’ve ever rated a 100%. Simply the best in my collection, and I can’t wait to keep on playing!