Dawn of the Dead (1978) Board Game

The Dawn of the Dead board game is based on the classic 1978 horror film directed by George A. Romero. The game allows players to experience the thrilling and terrifying world of a zombie apocalypse as they work together to survive and escape the mall overrun by the undead.

Game Components of Dawn of the Dead

Rulebook

11″ x 17″ map of the mall

Counters representing four humans (two SWAT team members and a man and woman) and fifty zombies

How To Setup Dawn of the Dead

To set up the game, players first place the mall map on the playing surface. The human player positions their four characters in different areas of the mall, while the zombie player distributes the zombie counters throughout the mall. The objective for the humans is to link up and secure the mall, and for the zombies, it is to overwhelm the humans.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Science fiction board wargame

Mechanics: Area movement, combat, and resource management

Objective:
– Human player: Arm civilians with hunting rifles, lock all mall doors, and eliminate all zombies inside the mall.
– Zombie player: Kill or infect three humans; if one of the victims is the woman, only two humans need to be eliminated.

Player Experience

The game is fast-paced and fun, particularly for the human player who gets to use firearms and high movement values to evade and eliminate zombies. However, the game balance is often criticized for favoring the human player. The zombie player must capitalize on the initial separation of the human characters to win.

Pros

Engaging theme based on a popular zombie movie

Fast-paced gameplay

Includes a solitaire option

Unique mechanics such as zombie berserk mode and human panic

Cons

Game balance favors the human player

Zombie player’s experience can be monotonous

Limited replayability due to the imbalance

Personal Thoughts on Dawn of the Dead

**Dawn of the Dead** is ideal for fans of the movie and those who enjoy science fiction and horror themes. While it has its flaws, particularly in game balance, it remains a unique and nostalgic piece for collectors and enthusiasts of board games from the 1970s. It plays better as a solitaire game, where the challenge is more even and engaging. For those interested in historical board games or themed games, **Dawn of the Dead** is certainly worth a look, though its rarity and expense might be a barrier for some.

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