Final Girl (2021) Board Game

Final Girl is a solo board game released in 2021 by Van Ryder Games. Designed by Evan Derrick and A. J. Porfirio, the game falls under the horror category and is designed for players aged 14 and above. With artwork by Tyler Johnson and Roland MacDonald, Final Girl offers a unique gaming experience with its dice rolling, hand management, and solo gameplay mechanics.

Game Components of Final Girl

Core Box: Includes basic rules, general components, and is not playable by itself; requires at least one Feature Film Box.

Feature Film Boxes: Each box features a unique Killer, iconic Location, and specific terror cards.

Action Cards: 23 action cards, including basic and advanced cards.

Custom Dice: Six custom dice for measuring success.

Health Markers: Black and white health markers, red wooden heart markers.

Figures: Wooden Killer, Final Girl, and victim figures.

Modular Board: The box doubles as the playing board, with magnetic components.

How To Setup Final Girl

To set up Final Girl, you need to combine the Core Box with at least one Feature Film Box. The setup involves placing the Killer and Final Girl figures on the board, shuffling and dealing out the terror cards and action cards, and setting up the location and victim markers. The process is relatively quick, taking around 5 minutes, but can be tedious if you are resetting for multiple back-to-back games.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Manage cards to perform actions and acquire new cards.

Pick-up and Deliver: Escort victims to safety to prevent the Killer from getting stronger.

Dice Rolling: Roll dice to measure the success of actions.

Resource Management: Manage “time” resources to buy and use advanced cards.

Objective: Kill the Killer before the Killer kills you and the victims.

Player Experience

Playing Final Girl feels like being in a horror movie, where you navigate through a terrifying scenario as the last girl standing. The game is highly replayable due to the modular system, allowing different combinations of Killers, locations, and Final Girls. Players appreciate the game’s rhythmic and tactical gameplay, though some find the card and dice system a bit rigid and the final confrontation somewhat luck-dependent.

Pros

High Replayability: Multiple combinations of Killers, locations, and Final Girls.

Modular System: Interchangeable components add flavor and novelty.

Clever Design: The box doubles as the playing board, saving space and material.

Thematic Experience: Immersive horror theme with a strong narrative design.

Challenging Gameplay: Appropriate difficulty level that simulates the horror experience.

Cons

Core Box Not Playable Alone: Requires at least one Feature Film Box.

Randomness and Luck: Some players find the game too random and luck-dependent, especially in the final confrontation.

Tedious Setup for Multiple Games: Resetting components for back-to-back games can be tedious.

Expensive: Requires additional purchases for Feature Film Boxes.

Personal Thoughts on Final Girl

**Final Girl** is ideal for fans of solo board games and horror themes. It offers a unique and challenging experience that combines tactical gameplay with a robust modular system. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its randomness and reliance on luck, it is widely regarded as one of the best solo games available. If you enjoy hand-management and resource management in a horror context, **Final Girl** is definitely worth a try. However, be prepared for the additional cost of Feature Film Boxes to fully experience the game’s potential.

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