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Card of the Dead
2011
Rules assistance for Card of the Dead
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.
Rules assistant for Card of the Dead
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Card of the Dead is a board game released in 2011 for 2–5 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Motohiro Nakamura and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
In the survival action card game Card of the Dead, players are trapped in a town full of zombies; engulfed in the scourge of terror, they must try to survive the zombie horde. Some will frantically seek to flee the city, others will seek to barricade themselves in buildings against the terrible siege. By not getting surrounded, and through the use of both luck and brains(!), you will be able to survive the night. In game terms, from a deck of cards containing zombies, items and events, players are dealt a hand of cards. Each turn, players draw a card. If the card's a zombie, the player places it in front of himself; if not, he adds the card to his hand and plays one card of his choice. Certain items give the player a chance to flee. The player who first lays down a predetermined number of escape cards – or who is simply the last one alive – wins the game.
Editions
- Card of the DeadenAlderac Entertainment Group2013
- Card of the DeadenTAMAKONNYAKU label2011
- 僵尸团团转963.com2014
- Зловещие зомбецыruHobby World2014
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby World
- Alderac Entertainment Group
- Japon Brand
- 963.com
- TAMAKONNYAKU label
Questions and answers
Card of the Dead supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Card of the Dead is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Card of the Dead for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Card of the Dead has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Card of the Dead belongs to these categories: Card Game and Zombies. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Card of the Dead are: Motohiro Nakamura. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Card of the Dead as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.