Mall of Horror
- Players
- 3-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 6 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.9 / 5
- Year
- 2005
About the game
A tense negotiation and voting game where 3-6 players control three characters trapped in a zombie-infested mall, racing to survive. Each round, players must decide who gets sacrificed to the horde, sparking alliances, betrayals, and desperate bargaining. There is no real combat, so all the drama comes from social maneuvering. It is built purely around survival, not zombie-slaying, meaning trust is a currency and lies are cheap.
Hobbli's Notes
Mall of Horror thrives on the messiness of group dynamics rather than clever mechanics - the real game is watching alliances crumble the moment the zombie count rises. It's mean in a fun way, but the theme mostly dresses up what's essentially a bluffing and voting exercise. Best enjoyed with a group that won't take being thrown to the zombies personally. The game's high downtime score suggests some players may feel less involved between their turns to negotiate.
What we like
- Tense negotiation creates memorable social drama every round.
- Quick to teach with simple voting and simultaneous action mechanics.
- Asymmetric character abilities add strategic depth to alliances.
- Zombie horror theme delivers a fun sense of dread without heavy rules.
Keep in mind
- High downtime can leave players waiting between their own decisions.
- Group dynamics mean quieter players may get steamrolled.
- Limited replayability once the negotiation patterns become familiar.
Who it's for
Best for groups of 4-6 adults and older teens (14+) who enjoy social deduction, negotiation, and a bit of cutthroat backstabbing.
