Downfall

Categories: Exploration, Science Fiction, Territory Building

Mechanics: Area Majority/Influence, Open Drafting, Simultaneous Action Selection

Players: 3–6

Ages: 14+

Playtime: 90–150 Min

In the year 2213, the world as it had been known for a century and a half came to a sudden and catastrophic end during a 19-day war. Bombs started falling on the third day, and by the 19th day, ninety-nine percent of the earth's population was either dead or doomed. For decades prior, wars and conflicts had sporadically erupted, with populations rising up and the global government striving to suppress unrest and maintain control. But in the final five years, tensions escalated rapidly, leading to the disintegration of the world order. Leaders grew fearful, and with itchy trigger fingers, the inevitable happened. No one knows who launched the first strike, and in the brutal aftermath, no one cared. The focus shifted to survival and, if possible, rebuilding.

In this game, each turn sees players drafting and simultaneously playing a card from their hand ("pack") to dictate their action for the round. Actions may include moving citizens or airships to explore and expand across the modular board, constructing buildings, researching technology, initiating conflicts, producing or gathering resources, and reducing radiation levels. Each of these actions can earn points in different ways. If resources cannot be stored, they remain on the ground, accessible to anyone present. Each card offers a primary action and a lesser version of another, ensuring players are never entirely unable to perform a specific action, and allowing for cards to be stored for future use.

After all actions are executed, hands are passed to the next player, with a new card added to each hand. If a "Winter" card is drawn, it is discarded and replaced, advancing the game timer. As the timer progresses, both expected events (such as the spread of radiation, combat, and feeding your citizens) and unexpected events may occur. When the Winter track reaches its end, the game concludes, and players tally their points to determine the winner.