- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Captain Is Dead: Episode 2 – Adrift
- 2–7 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,646
- BGG rating
- 7.0
The Captain Is Dead
2014
Rules assistance for The Captain Is Dead
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–7 players
- 60–90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Captain Is Dead
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Captain Is Dead is a board game released in 2014 for 2–7 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by JT Smith and Joe Price and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area Movement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.8
The Captain Is Dead: Episode III – Lockdown Expansion
- 1–7 players
- 90–120 min
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Captain Is Dead: The Problem with Priggles
- 1–7 players
- 45–60 min
- 2021
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About the game
Imagine that you are one of the crew in your favorite science fiction TV show. Now imagine that in the last 10 minutes of the show things have gone so badly that the captain is dead and you and the surviving members of your crew have to pull together and save the day yourselves! The Captain Is Dead is a co-op game for 2 to 7 players. All you have to do is get the ship's engines (aka "Jump Core") back online and you win, but because there is a hostile alien ship trying to destroy you, that is easier said than done. You have an impressive star ship full of useful systems that will help you fend off the aliens, and get the Jump Core back online. Each system gives you an advantage while it remains online. The assault from the hostile alien ship tends to keep knocking those systems offline however. So you need to balance your time between keeping the ships system's online, fending off the alien threat, and completing your objective. Each member of your crew has special abilities and skills. You need to work as a group to maximize the potential of each role. If someone tries to be a hero, you'll all die.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- (Web published)
- The Game Crafter, LLC
- Alderac Entertainment Group
- FReak Or Geek
Questions and answers
The Captain Is Dead 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 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 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 has a complexity rating of 2.4 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 belongs to these categories: Fighting and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area 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 The Captain Is Dead are: JT Smith and Joe Price. 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 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.