Saboteur: The Dark Cave

About this board game

Saboteur: The Dark Cave is a 45-minute standalone game for 2–8 players about escaping a collapsing mine with more gold than the rival clan.

After discovering gold, the dwarf clans are caught in an earthquake. The mine is collapsing, and the route to safety is filled with spider webs, monsters, and saboteurs who make escape more difficult.

At the beginning of the game, each player is assigned to a clan, although some players may secretly be saboteurs working for the other clan. Starting with the mine card at the center of play, players take turns laying tunnel cards outward toward four corner cards. Only one of those cards is the exit.

• Build tunnels from the mine toward the possible exits.
• Equip yourself and place monsters in front of other players.
• Discover who is truly part of your clan.
• Reveal the exit instead of trudging all the way to it blindly.

Cards can help players develop their routes, hinder opposing dwarves, and uncover information about the escape. The hidden clan identities keep every departure significant: as soon as a dwarf leaves the mine, that player reveals their true identity, and any gold they carry is added to their clan’s total.

The game ends as soon as all members of one clan have escaped. Whichever clan has collected the most gold wins. Recreating the feel of Saboteur while offering its own collapsing-cave setting, Saboteur: The Dark Cave combines tunnel building, hidden loyalties, obstacles, and a race for treasure.