Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

1982

Experience the adrenaline rush in Survive, a strategic board game where players strive to safely evacuate their pieces from a sinking island. Battle sea creatures, use boats or swim, and ensure your highest-valued pieces reach safety first!

60
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Welcome to the thrilling and suspensive world of Survive: Escape from Atlantis! This board game immerses players in a high-stakes adventure where human cunning is the key to survival.

The theme and setting of the game transport players to a fantastical world on the brink of destruction. You are on the mythical island of Atlantis, a once flourishing civilization that is now sinking into the ocean’s depths. The objective? Get your explorers off the island onto safe ground before it disappears completely.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Survive: Escape from Atlantis!’ contains a variety of components that each have unique roles in the gameplay. Understanding each component is crucial to mastering the game. Here’s a detailed list:

1. Game Board

The game board for ‘Survive: Escape from Atlantis!’ is a modular board depicting an island surrounded by water. The island is made up of hexagonal tiles which are removed throughout the game to simulate the sinking of Atlantis. The remaining tiles are the spaces on which the players’ pieces move.

2. Land Tiles

There are three types of land tiles – sand, forest, and mountain. Each type of tile has a different effect when removed:

Sand Tiles: These are the first to sink. They often contain less dangerous results when flipped.
Forest Tiles: These are the second to sink. The effects on the underside can be more hazardous.
Mountain Tiles: These are the last to sink. They have the most dangerous effects when flipped.

3. Player Pawns

Each player has 10 pawns that start on the island and must make their way to the safety of the surrounding islands. Each pawn has a value on the bottom, ranging from 1 to 6, representing the number of points a player will receive if that pawn safely escapes the island.

4. Sea Serpents

Sea Serpents are static obstacles that start in specific locations on the board. They devour any pawns they come into contact with.

5. Whales

Whales are mobile obstacles that can destroy boats. They start in the water and move according to the roll of the creature dice.

6. Sharks

Sharks also start in the water and can devour any pawns they come into contact with. They too are moved according to the roll of the creature dice.

7. Boats

Boats are used by pawns to move faster across the water. They can carry up to three pawns at a time but can be destroyed by whales.

8. Creature Dice

The Creature Dice is rolled to determine the movement of the whales and sharks. It has different faces for each creature and a ‘blank’ face which means no creature moves.

9. Red Die

The Red Die is rolled to determine which land tile is removed (or sinks) each turn. Its faces correspond to the coordinates on the game board.

10. Player Cards

Player cards are used to provide special one-time effects that can alter the game. This includes controlling sea serpents, moving boats, and saving a pawn from a tile that is sinking.

Each component in ‘Survive: Escape from Atlantis!’ contributes to the overall dynamic gameplay, creating a tense and exciting race for survival.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is an exciting board game that requires strategic planning and a bit of luck. Here is a detailed guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Setting up the Board

Start with the game board, which represents the island of Atlantis. The board is composed of 40 terrain tiles – 16 beach (sand), 16 forest (green), and 8 mountain (brown). Arrange these tiles in a random pattern within the blue sea border to form the island. Mountains go in the middle, surrounded by forests, and then beaches on the outer edges.

Step 2: Placing the Sea Serpents

Place the sea serpents on the designated spots. These are marked on the board with their images. There are 5 sea serpents in total.

Step 3: Distributing the Boats

There are 9 boats in the game. Place them on any vacant sea spaces around the island.

Step 4: Assigning Player Roles

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding 10 people tokens. The tokens have different numbers on them representing the points they will earn if they safely escape. The numbers are 1, 2, and 3. Distribute these people tokens among your players.

Step 5: Placing the People Tokens

Players take turns placing their people tokens on any vacant land spaces until all tokens are on the board. No more than one token can occupy a single land space.

Step 6: Shuffling the Creature Cards

Shuffle the creature cards and place the deck near the game board. Players will draw these cards during the game to influence the movement of sea creatures.

Step 7: Initial Resources

Each player starts without any resources. Resources (in the form of safe land) will be sought after as the game progresses and the island starts to sink.

Step 8: Determining the First Player

The youngest player goes first. The game continues in a clockwise direction.

Step 9: Random Elements

The game is full of random elements. The sinking of the island is determined by the terrain tiles drawn by the players, and the movement of the sea creatures is controlled by the creature cards. Also, the safety of a player’s people tokens depends on their ability to reach safe land, which may or may not be available depending on the game’s events.

Now that you’ve set up the game, you’re ready to start playing and try to survive your escape from Atlantis!

Game flow Round and round we go

The goal of the board game ‘Survive: Escape from Atlantis!’ is to navigate your explorers from the sinking island of Atlantis to the safety of the nearby islands. The game ends when the volcano is drawn and explodes, or when all surviving explorers have safely reached the islands. The player whose surviving explorers have the highest total value wins the game.

Game Setup:

The game board, which represents the island of Atlantis, is set up in the middle of the table.
Each player chooses a set of explorers. The explorers should be placed on the island, spaced out across the different terrain types (mountains, forests, and beaches).
The sea serpents, whales, and sharks are placed in their respective starting locations around the island.

Gameplay:

Gameplay is divided into three phases, which are repeated in each player’s turn:

Play a Tile: The player removes a tile from the island, starting from the beach, then the forest, and finally the mountain. The tile’s action is performed immediately. Actions can include moving sea creatures or adding additional explorers to the board.
Move Explorers: The player may move their explorers a total of three spaces. Explorers can move to an adjacent space on the island, swim to an adjacent water space, or board a boat. Boats can move up to three spaces, but only if there’s an explorer of the same color aboard.
Roll the Creature Die: The player rolls the creature die and moves the corresponding creature. Creatures can destroy boats, eat swimmers, and otherwise impede the explorers’ progress.

End of the Game:

The game ends when the volcano tile is drawn or when all surviving explorers have reached the safe islands. Players add up the numbers on the bottom of their surviving explorers – the player with the highest total wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Survive: Escape from Atlantis!, players maneuver their explorers around an ever-changing island that is constantly sinking into the sea. The goal is to get as many of your explorers to the safety of the surrounding islands as possible. The game is divided into turns, and each turn consists of several phases. The following is a detailed explanation of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Play a Tile:

The player may choose to play a tile from their hand. This tile can have a variety of effects on the game, such as moving a sea serpent, causing a whirlpool, or summoning a dolphin. Playing a tile can greatly affect the gameplay and should be used strategically. For instance, you might want to move a sea serpent towards an opponent’s explorer or move a dolphin to help one of your own explorers.

2. Move Explorers:

The player can move their explorers around the island. They have three movement points to distribute among their explorers as they see fit. Each explorer can move through one tile per movement point. However, explorers can only move from a land tile to a sea tile, or vice versa, if there is a boat present. This phase requires strategic thinking, as moving your explorers towards the boats and the safety of the surrounding islands is key to winning the game.

3. Sink a Tile:

After moving their explorers, the player must sink a tile. They can choose any tile on the island that isn’t completely surrounded by water. The chosen tile is removed from the game, and any explorers on it are left stranded in the sea. This creates a constantly changing game board and requires players to adapt their strategies. Sinking a tile with an opponent’s explorer can be a good way to hinder their progress.

4. Roll the Creature Die:

The player ends their turn by rolling the creature die. This die determines which type of creature moves: whale, shark, sea serpent, or dolphin. The player can move the corresponding creature up to two spaces. Whales capsize boats, sharks eat swimmers, and sea serpents do both. Dolphins, on the other hand, protect swimmers from other creatures. Moving these creatures can be a way to protect your own explorers or endanger those of your opponents.

Through these actions and strategic choices, each player’s turn in Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is filled with suspense and tactical decisions. Will you focus on getting your own explorers to safety, or will you try to hinder your opponents? Every decision can have far-reaching effects, making this game a thrilling experience from start to finish.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a game of strategic survival and escape. The game ends when either all surviving player pieces have reached the safety of one of the four corners of the board, or when the volcano tile is drawn.

There are two victory conditions in the game:

All survivors reach safety: If all surviving player pieces reach one of the four corner islands, the game ends immediately. Scoring is then conducted based on the numbers printed on the bottom of the player pieces that have safely reached the corners.
The volcano tile is drawn: If the volcano tile is drawn, the game ends instantly, regardless of how many player pieces are still on the board or have reached safety. As in the first victory condition, scoring is based on the numbers on the player pieces that have reached the corners.

Before final scoring can occur, players must follow these steps:

Count survivors: Each player counts the number of their figures that have reached the safety of the corner islands.
Reveal numbers: Players flip over their surviving figures to reveal the numbers on the bottom, which represent the point values of the figures.
Add points: Players add up the point values of their surviving figures.
Declare the winner: The player with the highest total point value from their surviving figures is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most surviving figures wins. If there is still a tie, the player who reached safety first with their last figure is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In Survive: Escape from Atlantis!, points are awarded based on the successful evacuation of players’ tokens from the sinking island of Atlantis to the safe islands located at the corners of the game board. Each player’s tokens have different values, which are kept hidden from other players until the end of the game.

Points Allocation

Each player starts the game with 10 people tokens. The value of these tokens range from 1 to 6, with the total value being 24. Therefore, players must strategize on how to save their most valuable tokens.
When a player successfully moves a token to one of the safe islands, the token is removed from the game board and kept by the player. The player will reveal the value of the token at the end of the game.
The game ends when all surviving tokens are either on the safe islands or are eliminated. At this point, players calculate their scores by adding up the values of their saved tokens.

Tie-Breaking Rules

If two or more players have the same total value at the end of the game, the player who has saved the most tokens wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who saved their highest-value token first is the winner.
In the rare case that there is still a tie, the win is shared between the tied players.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a complex and exciting game with a few special rules and exceptions that contribute to its strategic depth. Understanding these rules is crucial for the best gaming experience.

Sea Serpent Attacks:

Sea Serpents are unique because they can only attack swimmers. They cannot attack boats or any other sea creatures. This rule often confuses new players who assume that Sea Serpents, given their aggressive nature, can attack just about anything.

Whirlpool Destruction:

When a Whirlpool tile is flipped, all pieces (boats, swimmers, and sea creatures) in the same and adjacent spaces are immediately removed from the game. However, the tile itself stays put, serving as a permanent obstacle for the rest of the game.

Boat Capacity:

While boats can carry up to three characters, they can only carry characters from the same player. A common misunderstanding is that boats can carry characters from multiple players, but this is not the case.

Swimmer’s Movement:

It’s important to remember that swimmers can move in any direction, not just towards the nearest land tile. This rule can be easily overlooked, but it allows for more strategic gameplay and unexpected moves.

Tile Removal Order:

The first tiles to be removed are the sand tiles. Once all sand tiles have been removed, then players start removing forest tiles.
After all the forest tiles are removed, players can start removing mountain tiles. This order is mandatory and must be followed precisely.

Using Special Ability Cards:

Special Ability Cards can only be used once per turn, and only during the player’s own turn. Furthermore, the ‘Dolphin’ card can only be used to protect swimmers, not boats or other sea creatures.

End of the Game:

The game ends immediately once the volcano tile is drawn, not at the end of the current player’s turn. The player who reveals the volcano tile does not get any extra actions.

Remember, the player with the most points from safely transported characters at the end of the game wins, not necessarily the player who transported the most characters.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a game of strategy and survival, where you must use your wits and cunning to lead your explorers to safety. Here are a few advanced strategies to give you an edge:

Optimal Tile Removal: Don’t just remove tiles randomly. Try to strategize the removal of tiles based on where your opponents’ pieces are located. This can help to stall their progress and give you an advantage.
Use Creatures Wisely: Use your sea creatures to attack your opponents’ explorers. While this may seem aggressive, remember that your primary goal is to survive, and sometimes that means taking out the competition.
Boat Management: Use boats as efficiently as possible. If you can, try to get a boat with all of your pieces in it to safety. This can save you a lot of time and resources.

Beginner Tips:

If you’re new to Survive: Escape from Atlantis!, here are a few tips to get you started:

Understand the Rules: Be sure to thoroughly understand the rules and mechanics of the game. This will help you make better strategic decisions.
Plan Ahead: Don’t just react to what’s happening on the board. Try to plan several moves ahead and consider all possible outcomes.
Don’t Give Up: Even if things look bleak, don’t give up. The game can change rapidly, and with the right moves, you can still win.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

When playing Survive: Escape from Atlantis!, it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are a few common ones to avoid:

Ignoring Your Opponents: While it’s important to focus on your own strategy, you should also pay attention to what your opponents are doing. This can help you anticipate their moves and respond accordingly.
Forgetting About Sea Creatures: The sea creatures in the game are not just obstacles; they can also be used as tools. Don’t forget to use them to your advantage.
Wasting Resources: Try to use your resources as efficiently as possible. Wasting resources can leave you vulnerable and at a disadvantage.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Finally, here are some ways to optimize your gameplay in Survive: Escape from Atlantis!:

Master the Basics: Before attempting advanced strategies, make sure you’ve mastered the basics. This includes understanding the rules, knowing how to use each piece, and being able to anticipate the consequences of your actions.
Practice: The more you play, the better you’ll get. Practice can help you develop your own strategies and learn how to adapt to different situations.
Learn From Others: Watch others play and learn from their strategies. This can give you new ideas and help you improve your own gameplay.