Don’t Talk to Strangers (2021) Board Game

Don’t Talk to Strangers’ is a board game designed by Ben Stoll and illustrated by Steven Rhodes. It was released in 2021 by Cryptozoic Entertainment as part of the Steven Rhodes Games series. The game is designed for 1-4 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up. It falls under the category of ‘Take That’ games, where players aim to outwit and sabotage their opponents.

Game Components of Don’t Talk to Strangers

Player boards

Child tokens

Stranger tokens

Action cards

Safety tokens

Dice

How To Setup Don’t Talk to Strangers

To set up the game, each player chooses a player board and receives a set of child tokens. The stranger tokens and safety tokens are placed within reach of all players. Each player starts with a certain number of action cards. The objective is to keep your children safe from strangers, so the game board is arranged to represent a neighborhood where children can move around.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: On each player’s turn, they roll dice to determine how many actions they can take.

Child Movement: Players can move their child tokens around the neighborhood.

Encountering Strangers: If a child lands on a space with a stranger token, the player must resolve the encounter using action cards.

Safety: Players aim to keep their children safe by returning them home or using safety tokens.

Objective: The game ends when all children are safely home, and the player with the most children home wins.

Player Experience

**Don’t Talk to Strangers** offers a light-hearted yet strategic gameplay experience. Players need to balance the movement of their children with the risk of encountering strangers. The game is simple enough for younger players but also provides enough depth for adults to enjoy.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players of all ages.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to new gamers.

Strategic Depth: Requires planning and strategy to win.

Steven Rhodes Artwork: The game features colorful and humorous artwork by Steven Rhodes.

Cons

Luck Factor: The roll of the dice can significantly impact gameplay.

Limited Complexity: May not appeal to gamers seeking highly complex games.

Replayability: Some players might find the game repetitive after multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Don’t Talk to Strangers

**Don’t Talk to Strangers** is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a fun, easy-to-understand game. It teaches basic strategy and risk management in a playful way. While it may not be the best fit for hardcore gamers seeking deep complexity, it is a great addition to any family game night collection.

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