Dead Man’s Cabal

About this board game

Dead Man’s Cabal is a mid-weight strategy game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 60 minutes. Released in 2019, it challenges necromancers to bring the dead back to life and create a party with actual guests.

You have conquered death and mastered all nine dimensions of space-time, but your unusual lifestyle has left you short on friends. Fortunately, in this game, you can make them. Collect the resources needed to restore the dead and work toward hosting a memorable gathering.

The heart of Dead Man’s Cabal is its action selection mechanism. Each choice lets you take a private action followed by a group action, creating a constant tension between pursuing your own plans and triggering opportunities that may also benefit your competitors.

• Collect bodies, crystal skulls, and runes.
• Bring the dead back to life.
• Choose the timing of private and group actions carefully.
• Plan your actions so your opponents gain as little advantage as possible.

Although the central aim may sound simple, the order in which actions are triggered is crucial. A well-timed decision can advance your strategy, while the same opportunity may help another player more than it helps you.

With its darkly playful theme and emphasis on timing, Dead Man’s Cabal combines resource collection with shared-action decision-making. It is a strategic contest for players who enjoy weighing personal gains against the consequences their choices create for the whole table.