Victim: The Cursed Forest (2020) Board Game

Victim: The Cursed Forest is a horror-themed board game released in in 2020. Designed by Teerachot Kavinkame, Patipon Parinyaprasart, and Natnalin Wanhamad, this game takes players on an adventure through a cursed forest filled with dread and mystery. The game features immersive storytelling, exploration, and cooperative gameplay as players work together to survive and escape the forest.

Game Components of Victim: The Cursed Forest

Player miniatures: Each player chooses a character to play and collects their respective items.

Bunker map tile: Placed at the bottom of the stack of tiles.

Event cards: Affect gameplay and can adjust ability scores and items.

Decoding tiles: Used to earn bunker password tokens.

Ability test cards: Used during the Curse Phase to determine the host for the Evil.

Evil cards: Define the abilities and actions of the Evil.

Dice: Used for ability tests and battles.

Tokens: Represent various items, healing properties, and wounds.

Chits: Organized for table setup.

How To Setup Victim: The Cursed Forest

To set up the game, shuffle each deck separately and place the Bunker map tile in the bottom six of the stack. Split the stack into two stacks and place out all the chits in an organized manner. Each player chooses a character and collects their goodies. The Start Tile is laid down, and the player miniatures are placed upon it.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative gameplay: Players work together initially to reach the safety bunker.

Ability tests: Players make tests against one of the four abilities during the Curse Phase.

Event cards: Drawn at the end of each round, affecting gameplay.

Curse Phase: One player becomes the host for the Evil after a test, turning against the other players.

Battle mechanics: Simple Attack roll vs. Defense roll for one wound.

Objective: Players must reach the bunker, decode the password, and enter before the Evil takes out enough players.

Player Experience

The game starts as a cooperative exploration and map-building experience but quickly shifts into a intense survival game once the Evil enters play. Players must race against time to decode the bunker password while avoiding the Evil’s attacks. The game’s dynamic changes significantly after the Curse Phase, where one player turns against the others, adding a layer of tension and betrayal.

Pros

Dynamic gameplay: Shifts from cooperative to competitive quickly.

High replayability: Hours of gameplay with varying outcomes.

Engaging mechanics: Simple yet effective battle and ability test mechanics.

Immersive theme: Horror survival theme adds to the tension and excitement.

Cons

Complex setup: Requires careful organization of components.

Dependence on luck: Ability tests and Event cards can be frustrating if luck is not in favor.

Potential for early player elimination: Critical Injuries can lead to early exit from the game.

Personal Thoughts on Victim: The Cursed Forest

**Victim: The Cursed Forest** is ideal for fans of horror and survival games who enjoy cooperative gameplay with a twist. It is perfect for game nights with friends who appreciate the sudden shift from cooperation to competition. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer purely cooperative games or those who are easily frustrated by elements of luck. The game offers a unique and thrilling experience, making it a great addition to any board game collection.

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