The box creaks open like a long-sealed dungeon door, and suddenly I’m teenager again. Maps, monsters, quests, spells — all of it waiting right where I left it. This week, Adventurer, I’m rediscovering my original Talisman: The Magical Quest Game, the very same copy I played endlessly across ’80s and 90s.
I’d sent it to my brother and nephews years ago, so they might forge their own quests. Recently, they returned it to me — and the moment I lifted that dragon-clad lid, I felt like I was unearthing a relic from a forgotten age.
So come explore with me. Let’s take a tour through the 2nd Edition base game, and 3 of its expansion modules: Talisman Expansion Kit, Talisman The Adventure, and the wonderfully wild Talisman Dungeon. Cards, rulebooks, expansions, art — all jumbled together in the glorious chaos only a kid-at-heart could appreciate.
This week we step back into a realm of hand-drawn heroes, strange expansions, and the unmistakable charm of Games Workshop’s golden era. Rediscovered Relic… unlocked!
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This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
A moody, mystical fantasy-synth track — shimmering with ’80s atmosphere, glowing pads, and dream-like nostalgia. Gentle arpeggios drift like spell-light as the melody unfolds with the soft ache of rediscovery. A soundtrack to opening a long-forgotten boardgame and finding magic still waiting inside.
A relic from another age — my original 2nd Edition Talisman, newly returned to me after seeming decades.
How thrilling it is to behold once more the treasures within this hallowed box.
The box cover art of this Talisman the Magical Quest Game 2nd edition (1985) by Chris Achilleos drips old school epic fantasy in the very best way possible.
Within lies my bagged (and well-organized) cards and game pieces. Before we delve deeper, though, what says the back o’ the box?
“TALISMAN is a game played in a mythical world of dragons and sorcery. As a warrior, wizard, priest, or one of eleven other characters with special powers, each player must set off on a quest to find the magic, talisman. The journey will be filled with danger - monsters, traps and evil beings are waiting to defeat your player-character. With skill and luck you will survive to find the greatest treasure of them all. Only then will victory be yours.”
Sounds awesome . . . once again. But where did the idea for this game come from? Probably Preparatory School, if I were to guess.
I was right! Sure, I cheated, but boy am I glad Robert changed the theme to fantasy!
Let’s go a little deeper in my box to see what lies within . . .
Rules of the Realm — And Temptations from the Citadel
Oh cool - looks what’s beneath the core game’s ruleset.
Another set of rules for a Talisman expansion!
Talisman: The Adventure — those iconic yellow rulesheets I hadn’t seen since childhood.
I remember at some point ages ago consolidating the boxes from the expansion sets into the main box and discarding the others.
Boo!
Here’s what the box looked like for “Talisman The Adventure” (1986) (Another awesome illustration by Chris Achilleos!)
Check out these other games of the era by Games Workshop! You ever play any?
Excerpt from the “Questions & Answers” pamphlet
Here’s what the box looked like for the Talisman Expansion Kit (1986):
And further down the box is another Talisman expansion ruleset!
And the box for The Talisman Dungeon (1987)
Metallic Talisman miniatures by Citadel (only 60p each?!!!)
Behold! The Board(s)!!!
Folding add-on board for Talisman The Dungeon
This one is played in addition to the main board, or can even be played solo!
Your next piece of fantasy fun is calling.
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The 4 pieces of this magnificent game board fit together to create this wonderful vista
What incredible art! Welcome to the heart of Talisman’s look.
Much of Talisman’s visual identity comes from Gary Chalk, one of the great British fantasy illustrators of the ’80s.
Did You Know?
Gary Chalk is the illustrator for the original Lone Wolf gamebooks
There were a few other Talisman expansion kits back in the day that I never got my gauntlets on. Here they are:
Talisman Timescape (1988)(in the world of Warhammer 40,000)
Talisman City (1989)
Talisman Dragons (1993)
And now, let’s look at some of the other cards from within my box.
Talisman cards spilling out like a forgotten hoard.
Finally on our Magical Quest, let’s finish with a few closeups of these cards:
Wow. After seeing this all again, I can’t wait to play!
So, Adventurer, as the last cards are gathered and the board folds shut, I’m left smiling at how much wonder a simple box can hold. Talisman’s world — its art, its heroes, its monsters — helped set the course for my own lifelong love of fantasy. And rediscovering it now feels like reclaiming a small piece of childhood magic.
Until next time, may your quests be bold and your dice roll true, Nostalgic Adventurer — and may you always find treasure in the realms you rediscover.
Did you ever play Talisman or any other Games Workshop boardgames growing up?
Which character class would you most like to play?
Does this art style speak to you?
Should I feature more classic boardgame relics in future editions?
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Dreams of Cardboard Kingdoms [Verse 1]In the quiet of a morning, I lift the lid of ages past — Paper worlds and painted borders, Sleeping spells beneath the glass. Dusty cards like faded runes, Hold the echoes of my youth… In the silence, worlds awaken, Every creature, every truth.[Chorus] And the board remembers — All the footsteps we once made. Through the fields and frozen rivers, Where our childhood kingdoms played. In the glow of forgotten magic, I feel the realms return again… Oh, the board remembers — And it welcomes me back in.[Verse 2] There are shadows in the forest, There are whispers in the hills. Every card I turn is glowing With a dream that lingers still. Heroes rise from folded corners, Trolls and wizards call my name… Every space a lost adventure, Every roll a flame.[Chorus]And the board remembers — Every quest I left behind. Every path of fate and wonder Woven in a child’s mind. Now the realms come softly shining, Like the lanterns of old friends… Oh, the board remembers — Calling me to play again.[Outro] So I step into the circle, Where the talisman still gleams… And the years fall off like shadows As I walk back into dreams.
Played this game to DEATH as a kid. Gary Chalk's artwork is sublime! I remember gazing into board while waiting for my turn. The way Chalk drew everything as though you're looking into horizon rather than top-down made it feel like you were part of that world. Wonderful.
Talisman always looked fun, with this edition's artwork looking incredible, but was I never had a chance to play. Definitely will need to check out the sale on the new edition.
Played this game to DEATH as a kid. Gary Chalk's artwork is sublime! I remember gazing into board while waiting for my turn. The way Chalk drew everything as though you're looking into horizon rather than top-down made it feel like you were part of that world. Wonderful.
Talisman always looked fun, with this edition's artwork looking incredible, but was I never had a chance to play. Definitely will need to check out the sale on the new edition.