Sub Terra (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Sub Terra is a cooperative board game designed by Diana Franco Campos and released in in 2017. The game is set in a dark and mysterious cave system where players take on the roles of speleologists trying to escape before the cave collapses on them. With elements of adventure, exploration, horror, and maze navigation, Sub Terra offers a thrilling and immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Sub Terra

Wooden meeples for each caver

Sticker sheet for meeples

Player boards

Tokens for rubble, flood markers, ropes, and explosives

Pawns for the horrors

Rule book

Standard D6 dice

Tiles for the cave system, some of which glow under UV light.

How To Setup Sub Terra

To set up the game, players start with the Starting tile and each player chooses a specialist caver with unique skills. The cave system is expanded by drawing and placing tiles randomly, with the exit tile hidden among the last six tiles. Players also prepare the hazard deck and the horror pawns. Setup is relatively quick, taking about 10 minutes, including explaining the rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: The goal is to explore the cave network, avoid hazards, and escape through the exit tile before running out of resources or being caught by the horrors.

Action Phase: Players take turns using one or two action points to explore the cave, exert themselves for extra actions at the risk of health loss, or perform other actions like healing or placing ropes.

Horror Phase: Horrors move closer to the nearest caver, potentially knocking them out if caught.

Hazard Phase: A hazard card is drawn, triggering events such as cave-ins, floods, or gas leaks, which can harm players.

Character Abilities: Each caver has unique skills that can aid in the escape, such as the Geologist’s ability to choose between two tiles or the Scout’s immunity to horrors.

Player Experience

Playing **Sub Terra** is a tense and cooperative experience. Players must work together to navigate the dangers of the cave, manage resources, and avoid the ever-present threat of the horrors. The game’s atmosphere is enhanced by components that glow under UV light and the option to play ambient sound effects. However, the game’s difficulty can sometimes feel overwhelming due to the heavy reliance on luck and random events.

Pros

High Replayability: The random layout of the cave and the various character abilities offer different strategies each time the game is played.

Immersive Atmosphere: The game’s horror theme, UV components, and ambient sound effects create a compelling and eerie atmosphere.

Cooperative Play: The game requires effective teamwork and communication to succeed.

Tense Gameplay: The constant threat of horrors and hazards keeps players on edge.

Cons

Unbalanced Characters: Some characters have significantly more powerful abilities, making the game less challenging with certain character combinations.

Heavy Reliance on Luck: The game’s reliance on dice rolls and random hazard cards can make it feel unfair or frustrating at times.

Player Elimination: Players who are knocked out by horrors can be out of the game for a significant amount of time, reducing their engagement.

Component Issues: Some tiles are too dark to read easily, and key mechanics like exerting oneself can be easy to forget without reminders.

Personal Thoughts on Sub Terra

**Sub Terra** is ideal for fans of cooperative games and horror themes. It offers a unique blend of strategy, luck, and tension that can be very engaging. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer games with more balanced mechanics or those who are easily frustrated by random events. The game’s immersive atmosphere and high replayability make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who enjoy the thrill of surviving in a hostile environment.

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