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The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

A hidden-identity game in an Antarctic base, where one of the crew may be the alien, based on John Carpenter's film.

A research station in the Antarctic winter, a crew of twelve, and one of them is no longer human. The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 is a hidden-identity game based on John Carpenter's cult film, made in 2017. Each player takes one of twelve characters with a special ability, and everyone searches the base together, using supplies and equipment to check who is clean. The alien wants to spread unnoticed, while the humans hope to purge it and warn the next station. Expect accusations, bluffing and a lot of staring at each other across the table. It needs a big group, a good chunk of the evening and players who can handle a tense, horror mood.

Based on John Carpenter's cult filmTwelve characters with special abilitiesInvestigate the base to find the infected

Who it's for

You are a big group that likes bluffing and accusing, and at least some of you love the movie. Best at the full eight.

Not for you if…

You have fewer than four players, or you dislike being lied to by friends. It is long, tense and built around suspicion.

Vibe's take

Paranoid, tense and loud. Everyone is nice for a minute, then someone acts a little off and the whole table turns on them.

#2,295 on BGG

of over 30,000 ranked board games

Published 2017 · 9 years ago

older than 54% of games

In 4,278 collections

collected more than 52% of games

4–8 players · ages 12+

Best with 8 · publisher: 17+

60–120 min

longer than 87% of games · typical 30–90 min

Complexity: medium

One warm-up round · 2.3 out of 5 · heavier than 63%

Opinions: divided

Some love it, others really don’t

Language: little text

A few terms, easy to look up

Play style: in teams

With a hidden traitor at the table