Let’s Play – Holding On: The Troubled Life Of Billy Kerr
October 18, 2018 by ludicryan
Rory and Michael from Hub Games bring a very special game to the office with Holding On: The Troubled Life Of Billy Kerr.
One of the most popular games at UK Games Expo this year and certainly one of the most anticipated releases of 2018, Holding On is a cooperative game for 1 to 4 players in which you provide physical and palliative care to a patient approaching their last moments of life.
In the process, this patient - Billy Kerr - will confide in the players about his life and the regrets he has. It's an important game that hits home for both Cass and Ryan with the pair trying to hold back their emotions at times.
Have you ever played a board game that has moved you to tears or stunned you with its mechanical metaphors?
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
‘This War of Mine’ … at least the computer version had a similar effect.
Even reading some of the scenarios from the boardgame can be very emotional.
The game in the “Let’s play” also reminds me of another computer game with a similar message : “That dragon cancer”
I agree completely. This war of mine is a heartbreaking play with real tough life choices with no right alternatives. I backed the kickstarter for the board game and it has a similar weight as the computer game.
is that jeremy clarkson in the image?
close, its Ron Jeremy.
Amazing looking game. What a great concept and the emotional connection… wow!
Torn between watching this as I am very much excited to see the game in action and also not wanting to spoil it for myself…gah!
There’s a good ten scenarios to go through, so there’s lots to play through. But the first scenario does set the tone very well.
I’m going to watch it so I’m caught up, then I am determined to play through the rest of the game.
Got this on pre-order having seen Rahdo’s review. Just started watching – hope there aren’t too many spoilers…
OK – looked away from the spoiling reveals…
… but Cass’ and Ryan’s expressions told me I’ve done the right thing ordering this.
Thank you everyone for the awesome let’s play of Holding On. Great to see Rory from Rory’s Story Cubes again. I can very much relate to his observation about how being with a close relative in a Hospital or Hospice – particularly at nightime – and having the privilage of sharing what little time they may have – can be such a personal and perhaps even life-changing experience. I must go back to the Holding On kickstarter to read the comments, as I am curious: Do you have feedback about Holding On from any healthcare professionals who work in an… Read more »
OK, so it seems that Holding On was not kickstarted at all but instead previewed at the UK Games Expo. Looks like my memory is getting unreliable…
Glad you enjoyed it @aztecjaguar
We were very excited to play Holding On. It’s a really special game. I believe the designers did get a bit of feedback from healthcare professionals but the game is developed from their own personal experience of being in hospital with a loved one. I personally am looking forward to playing it with my Sister and her husband who are both nurses.
It’s a powerful concept, but the story may ba a bit too local. It will certainly hit a lot harder in a certain part of the world.