This board game, The Last of Us: Escape the Dark, masterfully translates the haunting suspense from the video game into a tabletop setting, a feat seldom achieved by adaptations. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted game and a must-have for enthusiasts of the PlayStation series.
As a dedicated enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder about the potential pitfalls when transferring a beloved video game from its native platform. The immediate interaction that makes these games stand out could be jeopardized, for instance, how could moving tokens on a board ever replicate the heart-pounding experience of pulling a trigger to save Ellie from a Clicker just inches away in the original game?
Themeborne’s tabletop enthusiasts have masterfully tackled an impressive challenge with Escape the Dark. This game almost defies possibility, recreating the nerve-wracking intensity of a Last of Us combat scene, maintaining a perfect equilibrium in every situation, and faithfully echoing the game’s grim atmosphere throughout.
As a passionate gamer, what I love most about it is that it’s designed to be accessible for gamers of all skill levels, yet it delivers an extraordinary level of depth in its mechanics. Plus, the base package offers endless replayability, making it a must-have for fans of the series. If you’re a fan too, you won’t want to miss out on this brilliant tabletop game!
The Last of Us: Escape the Dark screenshots & details
- Price: $74.95 USD | £69.99 GBP | $142 AUD
- Developer: Themeborne
- Players: 1-5
- Time to play: 45-90 minutes
Thrill and Agony
As a gamer, I find myself plunged into the chilling world of Escape the Dark. The narrative loosely follows the early stages of the original game, where my band of survivors starts off in a Quarantine Zone. Just like the game, things swiftly take a turn for the worse and before I know it, we’re on the move. Our objective is to navigate our way to Jackson, a beacon of hope amidst this frozen wasteland, but the path isn’t simple. The journey is as challenging as the game itself.
As you embark on this journey, you’ll frequently encounter situations where you need to choose your path, plan actions at certain destinations, and handle numerous other details, all while keeping an eye on your supplies and making sure your team is prepared for whatever challenges may arise. You’re up against the ticking clock in this adventure, as each action consumes a fixed amount of time, and you only have a limited number of days to arrive at Jackson before time runs out.
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In this game, if even one member of your team dies, the game is over for everyone. There are no second chances or free passes; once someone falls, that’s it. It can be harsh, but it keeps you constantly alert and focused. Every decision you make matters significantly, and every action you take has potential consequences that you must carefully consider before acting.
Looking forward to discovering suburban areas and checking for resources? By all means, but remember there might be encounters with adversaries ranging from snipers to Stalkers. If you’d rather relax at a campsite for some recovery, that’s fine too, just keep in mind it will consume one day of your time, and the tranquility may attract more hostile elements in the future when you venture out again, potentially increasing the threat level.
A combination of these elements, skillfully stacked, creates a captivating board game experience, one that keeps you fully immersed in the gameplay, a level of engagement that only very few other games can match.
Using my initial multiplayer session as an illustration, let me emphasize that the events that unfolded were unpredictable and unique. My four teammates were all hale and hearty, equipped with decent supplies, and eager to advance. However, for my character (Joel), I had to venture alone to unlock a crucial ability throughout the game. I seized this chance, but it turned out disastrously instead.
In a one-on-one battle, things took a turn for the worse as my health steadily decreased round after round, eventually leading to a crucial dice roll. If I had landed on the right symbol, everything would have gone smoothly, allowing us to carry on with our adventure as we neared the final destinations. Unfortunately, failing to do so meant defeat – not just for me, but for the entire team who had been fighting tirelessly. Despite the odds being somewhat in my favor, I rolled terribly and the groans of disappointment could be heard throughout the room as the game ended.
During our second attempt, let’s put it this way; things ran more smoothly, sparing me another awkward moment. We reached Jackson with enhanced skills and top-tier upgraded loot, more than one could dream of. However, a formidable final boss still awaited us, and it was no walk in the park. Setting up for this last challenge was nothing short of challenging, to put it mildly.
Following a prolonged struggle, involving numerous die rolls to decide the fate of our remaining characters, we eventually triumphed, prompting an outburst of jubilation. The atmosphere was electric with joy, as a tide of relief swept through us. Escape the Dark manages to enthrall every player completely, keeping you hooked from beginning to end and leaving you eager to replay the game immediately upon finishing it.
Highly accessible & highly replayable
One unique aspect that sets Escape the Dark apart from other games in the market is the exceptional attention to detail in its design across all levels. To begin with, the game intelligently adjusts the scenarios according to the number of players. This means not only do the challenges you encounter differ, but also the prizes you potentially win post-game can be significantly modified based on the group size.
Beyond this, the innovative card-driven narrative system allows for endless possibilities in gameplay. Each location on the board features a selection of distinctive story cards. To keep things unpredictable, these location decks are mixed before the game begins to determine the events that transpire upon arrival. This element adds excitement to each session, but it doesn’t stop there. There are also reward card decks to mix, a variety of randomized loot to collect (with various tiers and upgrades included), plus resources that can be utilized to create powerful in-game items such as melee weapons and health packs.
Escape the Dark is surprisingly easy to grasp despite its intricate mechanics and initial appearance of complexity. It’s one of the simplest tabletop games I’ve encountered, even for beginners, as you’ll quickly understand its workings after a few chapters and combat scenarios with the rulebook in hand. This makes it an excellent choice for your next game night, regardless of your gaming experience level.
A premium feel for a premium game
Among PlayStation’s most prized intellectual properties today stands The Last of Us. Its games have garnered immense success, both with critics and financially. However, the HBO adaptation catapulted this series to unprecedented heights, attracting millions of viewers, setting records, and earning a multitude of awards along the way.
Without a doubt, anything linked to this franchise must maintain a superior standard, and Escape the Dark certainly meets that expectation. The attention to detail, from the design of the packaging to the intricate character descriptions, is thoughtful and impressively well-executed.
This board exudes a top-quality vibe, and the black-and-white artwork on each chapter card and equipment item is nothing short of amazing. It seems they spared no effort in meeting the exceptional standard set by Naughty Dog long ago.
Although it might not be the most budget-friendly tabletop game available, you can trust that you’re getting a good value for your investment in this particular game.
TopMob Review Score: 5/5 – Great
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Accessible for newcomers | Rather lengthy set-up process |
| Highly replayable | – |
| Incredibly engaging | – |
Escape the Dark will be taking turns as our board game for upcoming nights, and I don’t foresee it being replaced any time soon due to its incredible potential for multiple playthroughs. It seems that even when not engaged in a game, I find myself pondering various scenarios, considering better strategies, or reflecting on ways we might have prevented certain outcomes.
This tabletop game is a fantastic representation of the Last of Us series. If you’re already a fan of the franchise, I highly recommend taking some time to explore it.
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2025-02-24 03:49