
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,380
- BGG rating
- 6.6
The Captain Is Dead: Lockdown
- 1–7 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2017

2019
Rules assistance for The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet is a board game released in 2019 for 2–7 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by JT Smith and Jamie Vrbsky and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Modular Board.
The intrepid crew escaped the alien prison in Lockdown. Now, having been assigned a third captain, they are on their first away mission! Taking their shuttlecraft to the surface of an abandoned alien planet, they are tasked with discovering alien relics that may point to why the alien empire detests our Spacefleet so much, and how we may one day forge peace. Of course, your new captain was very diplomatic, and upon encountering giant bugs that may very well be the reason the aliens abandoned the planet, he chose to attempt to communicate. The bugs communicated by biting his head clean off. So now, once again without a captain, the crew must attempt to complete the mission by exploring tunnels and obtaining relics, all while fighting off a swarm of bugs! The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet uses the mechanisms of The Captain is Dead in a whole new way. Through exploration and area defense, you'll try to survive long enough to obtain the necessary relics — but should the bugs attack the shuttlecraft enough times, you won't be able to escape! The Dangerous Planet tunnel system is modular, for easier and harder challenges. —description from the publisher
The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet supports 2–7 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 The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet is 60–90 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 The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet for ages 14 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.
The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet belongs to these categories: Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Modular Board. 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 The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet are: JT Smith and Jamie Vrbsky. 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 The Captain Is Dead: Dangerous Planet 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.