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Ambush!
- 1 player
- 180–240 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
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- BGG rating
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Dawn of the Dead
1981
Rules assistance for Dawn of the Dead
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 90–180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Dawn of the Dead
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dawn of the Dead is a board game released in 1981 for 1–4 players, 90–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John H. Butterfield and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Dawn of the Dead (based on the classic 1978 horror film) can be played as a two-player game (humans vs. zombies), as a solitaire game, or as a cooperative game with two to four players controlling the human heroes. The game map represents the shopping mall from the movie. Cardboard counters signify the four human characters and randomly-sized groups of zombies. Play is highly asymmetric — the humans are fast but badly outnumbered and subject to paralyzing panic attacks, while the zombies are slow but relentless and unlimited. To win, the zombies must kill the humans; the humans must secure the mall by closing all four entrances and eliminating all zombies within. Special rules cover berserk zombies, hidden zombies, and infected humans becoming terrifying “super zombies.” Microbadges Zombie Fan Dawn of the Dead fan
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- (Web published)
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
Dawn of the Dead supports 1–4 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 Dawn of the Dead is 90–180 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 Dawn of the Dead for ages 12 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.
Dawn of the Dead has a complexity rating of 2.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Dawn of the Dead belongs to these categories: Wargame, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 Dawn of the Dead are: John H. Butterfield. 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 Dawn 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.