It’s Alive! (2007) Board Game

It’s Alive!’ is a card game that was released in in 2007. Designed by R. H. Aidley and illustrated by Reiver Games, it falls under the horror and card game categories. The game is designed for 2-5 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up. It has an average runtime of 15-30 minutes and revolves around auction/bidding and set collection mechanics.

Game Components of It’s Alive!

Cards: Body part cards, special cards (coffin and villagers’ uprising), and money.

Money: Used for buying and auctioning cards.

Deck: A draw deck and each player’s discard pile (graveyard).

How To Setup It’s Alive!

To set up the game, players start by shuffling the deck and dealing a starting amount of money to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down within reach of all players. Each player begins with an empty graveyard.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Selection: Players can choose a card by drawing the top card from the deck or buying a card from another player’s discard pile.

Card Actions: Players can buy the chosen card at face value, sell it to the bank, or auction it to other players.

Special Cards: The coffin acts as a wild card, and the villagers’ uprising requires players to pay to appease the villagers.

Objective: The game ends when one player collects the eight body parts needed to bring their monster to life and cries out “It’s Alive!”

Player Experience

In **It’s Alive**, players take on the roles of mad scientists racing to create a monster. The game requires strategic management of limited funds to acquire necessary body parts while preventing opponents from doing the same. Players must balance spending money to acquire parts with the need to maintain funds for future auctions and to pay off villagers’ uprisings.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: Players must strategically manage their funds and make tactical decisions about buying, selling, and auctioning cards.

Interactive: Auction mechanics encourage player interaction and competition.

Quick Setup: The game setup is relatively quick, taking about 5 minutes.

Cons

Luck Factor: The game has a medium level of chance, which can affect the availability of necessary cards.

Economic Management: Spending money during a turn can leave players without funds for subsequent auctions.

Limited Theme Appeal: The game’s theme may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on It’s Alive!

**It’s Alive** is ideal for players who enjoy light, strategic card games with a dash of humor and competition. It is particularly suited for those who like auctions and set collection mechanics. The game’s moderate playing time and easy-to-learn rules make it accessible to a wide range of players, although it may appeal more to fans of quirky themes and competitive gameplay.

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