Castaways

Stranded on an island, you must cooperate to get rescued, yet only the best survivor story wins.

Designer: Alberto Corral
Published by: HomoLudicus
Editions by: asmodee, IELLO, Ghenos Games, Lookout Games, (Self-Published), Passport Game Studios

Four castaways wash up on a small island, and surviving means working together while still hoping to be the one with the best story to tell. In Castaways (originally Náufragos) you build a camp, improve your shelter, gather food and wood to keep the fire going, then push inland toward the island's highest point. From the summit you scan the horizon for a ship, and only then can you make a signal and be rescued. If you are saved, your tale is told around the world, but only if it is the best one. It is a 2010 semi-cooperative worker-placement game with push-your-luck dice, for one to four players, around two hours.

Semi-cooperative survival on a small islandWorker placement plus push-your-luck diceClimb the summit and signal a ship

Who it's for

You like survival stories where the group needs each other but personal glory still counts.

Not for you if…

You want a pure cooperative game or a light afternoon. This one has long turns, risk and a competitive edge.

Vibe's take

Tense and bittersweet. You help the group because you have to, then quietly angle for the better tale. Dice and risk keep survival uncertain.