# Legendary Encounters: The Matrix

Legendary Encounters: The Matrix is a board game for 1–5 players. It plays in 30–60 minutes and is meant for ages 17 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 2. It is rated 8.3 out of 10 by 12 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $125.98 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–5 (best with 2)
- **Playing time:** 30–60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 17+
- **Complexity:** 2.9 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2023
- **Categories:** Card Game, Science Fiction, Movies / TV / Radio theme, Fighting
- **Mechanics:** Cooperative Game, Hidden Roles, Delayed Purchase, Open Drafting, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers, Events, Solo / Solitaire Game, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Player Elimination
- **Ludoya rating:** 8.3 out of 10, from 12 reviews
- **Owned by:** 38 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 108
- **Unique players:** 63

**Designers:** Ben Cichoski, Daniel Mandel

**Publishers:** Upper Deck Entertainment

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lautapelikauppa | 66.43 € | https://lautapelikauppa.com/products/legendary-encounters-the-matrix |
| Alphaspel | 999 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/178310-legendary-encounters-the-matrix |
| Spelexperten | 999 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/kortspel/legendary-encounters-the-matrix.html |
| World of Board Games | 1049 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/legendary-encounters-the-matrix |
| BoardGames.BG | 104 € | https://boardgames-bg.com/legendary-encounters-the-matrix-2023.html |

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## Rules questions

### How do I move my avatar between the Matrix and the Real World?

Once per turn during your Action Phase you get one free move: put your RSI on the In the Matrix space to enter the Matrix or on top of your Avatar to enter the Real World; you can always use the free move to enter the Matrix but you can only leave the Matrix for free via an available phone icon (Alley or Subway) or by paying 3 [Star] at the Combat Zone phone if those exits are blocked — card effects can also move you. (Rulebook p. 11)

### Can I recruit Heroes while I'm in the Matrix?

You can only spend [Star] to recruit Heroes from the Dock or Hovercrafts while you are in the Real World; some effects that "gain" cards let you put cards into your discard pile regardless of whether you’re in the Matrix or Real World unless the effect says otherwise. (Rulebook pp. 11–12)

### When do Enemies strike and what happens during the Strike Phase?

During your Strike Phase each Enemy in the Combat Zone strikes from right to left: if you’re in the Matrix you draw a Strike card (it may deal damage), and if you’re in the Real World each Enemy subtracts 1 from the Time Track; after each Combat Zone strike, Enemies in the Real World also strike the active player unless placed next to a specific Avatar. (Rulebook p. 14)

### What happens when an Act advances or the Inevitable card appears?

When you are instructed to begin the next Part or Act you follow any setup and then your turn immediately ends (skip the rest of your Action and Strike Phases); Inevitable cards (Act 3) enter and then move through the Matrix Row, can’t be scanned or interacted with, and any phone icon they occupy becomes unusable. (Rulebook p. 15)

### If my damage equals my Avatar’s health, am I out and does the team lose?

If your accrued damage is greater than or equal to your Avatar’s Health you’re defeated and the whole team loses the game, with the exception that during Act 3 the rest of the team may continue while the defeated player is removed. (Rulebook p. 14)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/legendary-encounters-the-matrix)
- [Legendary Encounters: The Matrix in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/legendary-encounters-the-matrix)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373105)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._