Alone (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Alone is a science fiction board game released in 2019 by Horrible Guild. It is designed by Andrea Crespi and Lorenzo Silva, with artwork by Steven Hamilton and Paolo Lamanna. The game is set in a dark and atmospheric universe, where one player takes on the role of a lone survivor trying to navigate a dangerous and unpredictable environment, while the other players control the dangers and obstacles that stand in their way.

Game Components of Alone

Hero and Evil Player Components: Hero character card, equipment cards, mission cards, and Evil player reaction cards.

Map and Tiles: Double-layered map sheets representing two levels to explore, and room tiles that are revealed as the hero moves.

Miniatures: Hero and creature miniatures, including optional expansions like the Alpha Expansion with additional hero and boss creature miniatures.

Screens: A screen for the Evil players to hide their actions and map view.

How To Setup Alone

To set up Alone, the Evil players sit behind a screen and prepare the full map, seeding creatures and drawing reaction cards. The hero starts with a character card and equipment cards based on the difficulty level. The map is built dynamically as the hero explores, using tiles to represent the current visible area. Three mission cards are drawn, with two initial missions to complete before the final mission is unlocked.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Asymmetric Gameplay: One player controls the Hero, while up to three players control the Evil side.

Exploration and Map Reveal: The Hero explores the map, revealing new rooms and encountering creatures.

Action and Reaction System: The Hero takes actions (move, explore, fight, etc.), and the Evil players can play reaction cards to hinder the Hero’s progress.

Mission Completion: The Hero must complete initial missions to unlock the final mission. Missions involve reaching specific locations and performing actions.

Difficulty Levels: The game can be played at four different difficulty levels, affecting the Hero’s starting equipment and rewards.

Player Experience

Playing Alone is a highly immersive experience. From the Hero’s perspective, it’s a game of exploration and survival, with constant pressure and limited visibility. The Hero must navigate through an unknown map, gathering clues and avoiding traps. On the Evil side, it’s about teamwork and strategy, requiring effective communication and coordination among players to stop the Hero. The dynamic nature of the game keeps all players engaged, with no downtime for the Evil players as they respond to the Hero’s actions.

Pros

Immersive Theme: Successfully simulates the feeling of survival horror and first-person shooters.

Engaging Gameplay: Constantly interactive for all players, with no downtime for the Evil side.

High Replayability: 13 scenarios, including a campaign and random game options, along with variable difficulty levels.

Strategic Teamwork: Encourages cooperation and strategic communication among Evil players.

Cons

Quarterbacking: Can be an issue among Evil players, despite the game’s attempts to mitigate it.

Complex Setup: Requires careful setup and management of map tiles and reaction cards.

Personal Thoughts on Alone

Alone is ideal for gamers who enjoy asymmetric games, survival horror themes, and strategic teamwork. It’s a great choice for those looking for a challenging and immersive experience, particularly fans of sci-fi and horror genres. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer symmetric gameplay or those who are easily frustrated by the potential for quarterbacking among team players.

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