Death Valley: Highs & Lows

About this board game

Death Valley: Highs & Lows is a tableau-building game for 1–2 players that plays in around 15 minutes. As travelers crossing Death Valley, players assemble the best combination of cards across their Journey and Scrapbook rows.

On each turn, the active player chooses between adding a card to their Journey or resting. Resting moves cards from the Journey to the Scrapbook, helping shape the two rows that will ultimately determine the score.

Adding cards can be rewarding, but it also carries a risk. Revealing too many Hazards of the same type causes a player to shuffle away every card in their Journey. Careful decisions are essential: push forward for new possibilities, or rest before danger overwhelms your progress.

• Build two rows: Develop your Journey and Scrapbook to create your final tableau.
• Manage hazards: Avoid revealing too many Hazards of one type.
• Score the details: Stars provide points, while Skulls reduce your total.
• Use special abilities: Card effects can award points based on specific placements or conditions.

At the end of the game, players score the cards in both rows. Stars earn points, Skulls cost points, and special abilities can add further scoring opportunities. The player with the highest total wins.

Death Valley: Highs & Lows is the second entry in the Death Valley series. Its 18 cards work as a standalone game or can be combined with the previous Death Valley game to create a new set of 18 cards every time you play.