Good Dog, Bad Zombie (2018) Board Game

Good Dog, Bad Zombie is a board game released in 2018, designed by Evan Rowland. The game combines elements of animals, horror, humor, and zombies, creating a unique and exciting gameplay experience. Players take on the role of good dogs working together to save the world from a zombie apocalypse. The game features area movement, cooperative gameplay, hand management, pick-up and deliver mechanics, and variable player powers.

Game Components of Good Dog, Bad Zombie

City Board: Features Central Bark, a cliff, a river, and 18 different locations.

Dog Reference Sheets: Each dog has unique powers and actions.

Energy Card Deck: 64 cards for various actions like running, licking, and sniffing.

Scent Cards: Used to search for humans and trigger side effects.

Zombie Die: A 20-sided die to determine zombie placements.

Feral Track Board: Tracks the dogs’ feral state.

Playable Dog Characters: Eight different dogs with special abilities.

Human Tokens: Represent the humans to be rescued.

Zombie Tokens: The undead enemies.

How To Setup Good Dog, Bad Zombie

To set up the game, players first place the City Board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a dog and starts at Central Bark, receiving two energy cards from the deck. The starting zombies are placed according to the chosen difficulty level. Players also receive a dog reference sheet specific to their chosen dog. The game is ready when all components are in place and the Feral Track is set to zero.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Run: Move one space in any direction, including diagonally.

Lick: Draw two energy cards for yourself or another dog.

Sniff: Search scent-marked places, revealing humans or other effects.

Bark or Herd: Move pieces around the board, including humans, zombies, or fellow dogs.

Chew: Remove zombies from the board.

Good Doggo Special Power: Use unique abilities specific to each dog.

Energy Cards: Perform special actions like herding zombies or rescuing humans.

Zombie Mechanism: Roll the zombie die to place new zombies on the board, which can block paths, eat humans, or move closer to Central Bark.

Objective: Rescue six humans and return to Central Bark before the Feral Track reaches ten, indicating the dogs have gone feral.

Player Experience

Good Dog, Bad Zombie offers a charming and humorous take on the zombie apocalypse from a dog’s perspective. The game is designed to be light-hearted and family-friendly, making it suitable for kids and adults alike. The gameplay mechanics are easy to remember, thanks to the thematic integration, but the game can be heavily dependent on luck, particularly with energy card draws. Players must work cooperatively to rescue humans while managing the increasing zombie threat.

Pros

Thematic Execution: The game’s theme is well-executed, blending dog-loving charm with a zombie apocalypse setting.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for kids and adults, with a light enough zombie theme to be appropriate for most ages.

Easy to Learn: Simple mechanics make it easy for new players to join in.

Customizable Difficulty: Multiple difficulty levels allow players to adjust the challenge to their liking.

Unique Mechanics: Actions like licking and sniffing add a fun and unique twist to cooperative gameplay.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: The game’s outcome can be heavily influenced by the draw of energy cards, making long-term planning difficult.

Random Zombie Placement: The use of a die to advance zombies can make the game feel too random and unpredictable.

Component Quality (First Edition): The first edition had issues with component quality, though the second edition promises upgrades.

Personal Thoughts on Good Dog, Bad Zombie

Good Dog, Bad Zombie is ideal for dog lovers, families, and those looking for a light-hearted cooperative game. While it may not appeal to players seeking complex strategy or those who dislike luck-based mechanics, it offers a refreshing and entertaining take on the zombie genre. The second edition, with its upgraded components and new content, promises to enhance the overall experience even further.

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