Castaways

Castaways

AdventureNegotiation
Players
1-4
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
4 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
120 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
14+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
3.0 / 5
Year
2010

About the game

Castaways (Náufragos) strands one to four players on a deserted island where they must work together to build a camp, gather food and wood, and explore inland to reach the island's summit. From the highest point, castaways can finally spot a rescue ship on the horizon and signal for help using dice rolling, push-your-luck risk, and worker placement across the island's locations. It's a semi-cooperative game: everyone benefits from surviving together, but only the castaway who tells the best story of their ordeal at the end actually wins. Variable player powers ensure each castaway contributes differently to the group's chances of survival.

Hobbli's Notes

This is an ambitious survival game whose semi-cooperative structure creates interesting friction between helping the group survive and angling for your own personal glory. The push-your-luck exploration and camp-building give the theme real weight, though the two-hour playtime is a substantial ask for its complexity level. It rewards a group that enjoys narrative-driven survival games with a competitive twist.

What we like

  • Semi-cooperative structure creates a distinctive social dynamic.
  • Push-your-luck exploration adds real tension to camp-building.
  • Story-based final scoring rewards narrative flair as well as strategy.
  • Variable player roles give each castaway a distinct playstyle.

Keep in mind

  • Two-hour playtime is long relative to its complexity level.
  • Semi-cooperative tension can create friction at the table.
  • Heavy dice reliance introduces significant variance to outcomes.

Who it's for

Best for groups of one to four players aged 12 to 14 who enjoy semi-cooperative survival themes, push-your-luck risk, and story-driven scoring.

Mechanics

Dice RollingPush Your LuckSemi-Cooperative GameVariable Player PowersWorker Placement

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