Carnival Zombie (2013) Board Game

Carnival Zombie is a cooperative board game designed by Jocularis and released in in 2013. Set in a post-apocalyptic Venice during the Renaissance era, players must work together to survive and escape from the hordes of zombies that have overtaken the city.

Game Components of Carnival Zombie

Characters: Six characters with variant versions

Board: Representing Venice with multiple locations

Miniatures and Standees: For characters and zombies

Player Aids: Various tokens and cards for tracking health, stress, and items

Scenario Boards: Including a fold-out board for specific scenarios like “The Blessed Path”.

How To Setup Carnival Zombie

To set up the game, players first prepare the board by placing the Venice map and setting up the day and night cycles. Each player selects a character and places their miniature on the board. The game includes a comprehensive manual with clear instructions and example-filled guides to help with setup. Players also need to prepare the zombie cubes, barricades, and other game components according to the scenario being played.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Day and Night Phases: The game is split into day and night phases, with four hours during the day and three stages at night.

Character Actions: During the day, players move, heal stress, search for items, and prepare barricades. At night, they defend against zombies in a tower-defense style minigame.

Zombie Encounters: Zombies spawn during the night, and players must defend their position using attack statistics and barricades.

Stress Mechanic: Characters accumulate stress when fighting zombies, especially in hand-to-hand combat.

Scenario Variants: Different scenarios offer unique objectives, such as escaping via bridge, submarine, or boat, or building a holy hand grenade to fight the Leviathan.

Player Experience

Carnival Zombie offers a highly immersive and challenging experience. The game is **streamlined and accessible** but remains **challenging and compelling to master**. Players appreciate the **high-quality components**, including excellent miniatures and standees. The game is particularly enjoyable as a **solo experience**, though it also works well with two or three players. The varied final showdowns and multiple scenarios add significant replay value.

Pros

High-quality components: Excellent miniatures, standees, and player aids.

Immersive gameplay: Unique day and night phases with a strong theme.

Replay value: Multiple scenarios and variant characters.

Accessible yet challenging: Easy to learn but difficult to master.

Variety in final showdowns: Different endgame scenarios provide a lot of fun and variety.

Cons

Less optimal at higher player counts: The game is less enjoyable with four, five, or six players.

Complex setup: Requires careful preparation before starting the game.

Personal Thoughts on Carnival Zombie

Carnival Zombie is ideal for fans of cooperative games, especially those who enjoy horror themes and action-packed gameplay. It is particularly suited for solo players or groups of two to three, as it offers a more focused and intense experience. The game’s unique blend of mechanics and its well-crafted scenarios make it a standout in the board game community, appealing to both casual and experienced gamers looking for a challenging yet rewarding experience.

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