-Final Girl Review-
So here’s a new single player ttrpg, final girl!
It’s a take on the classic final girl trope in classic slasher/monster movies. You play as the final girl and, through an extensive phase system, go through the map, search for items, save victims, and hopefully defeat the monster/killer.
The first set up can be a little daunting as with most board games; Pieces whose purpose is yet to be revealed, many different decks of cards, multiple boards to place. However, Final Girl has a short rule booklet that goes through every step of setup, every phase of play and leaves nothing unexplained. After a few minutes of reading I already had the boards set up and ready to play.
The first rounds of the game are a little tricky to navigate, making sure I’m following the rules and playing the killer correctly took a little back and forth in the game manual but very soon it became second nature.
-Gameplay-
during a round there are five phases:
1. Action phase
2. planing phase
3. Killer phase
4. Panic phase
5. Recovery phase
In the action phase you play action cards that allow you to move, search for items, recover health, lower the horror meter, and/or attack the enemy. You determine the level of success through dice rolls. The number of dice you roll is determined by the horror meter that will increase or decrease depending on different cards pulled.
In the planning phase you “purchase” action cards with time, a resource that either increases or decreases from a base number through the use of action cards in your hand. When purchasing cards is done, you reset your time, and restock your used action cards.
Now it’s the killer’s phase 😈.
In the outset, the killer has an immediate action that takes place. Targeting any victims or the final girl in their space and attacking (victims taking priority). After that, a terror card is drawn and the killer follows the directives on the card.
Panic phase, this phase takes place if there are any victims still alive in the killers space they are occupying. Victims panic and, after rolling a die for every victim, will move to another adjacent space or freeze.
Recovery phase, this phase allows any rearranging of gathered items from the backpack tab to in the characters hands and vice versa. If there are no more terror cards to pull, the killer’s finale card is flipped. After this the round starts over.
The game ends when either the killer or you lose all of your health.
-Review-
So the biggest draw back to the game is that it’s sold in separate parts with there being a core rule box with the most important pieces to play as well as the rule book, obviously, and separate episode boxes that hold the killers, final girl(s) and locations. So if you don’t inherently know that or are less than observant then you may end up with two separate purchases.
The game ends up being feeling fairly fast paced despite the multiple phases in a single round. I found myself losing a full hour to the game before Laurie eventually succumbed to Hans the Butcher.
The art work is gorgeous and the supplemental info pages clearly credit the directors (designers) and lead artists.
The gameplay is challenging and you need to exercise good strategy to save victims, level yourself up and make sure you have the cards you need to keep moving and searching for items to use against Hans.
I ended up saving 4 victims and inflicting two damage overall to Hans. It was exciting to find a bear trap to use against Hans and having it go off before he subsequently one shotting me as he had been busy killing other victims and leveling himself up.
It was ridiculously fun playing the game and finding some horror ambience to play in the background.
Overall I would rate Final Girl:
🔪🔪🔪🔪 /5
If they’re core box had some kind of playable tutorial or was sold with some kind of episode so only one purchase was necessary I would give it a five.
If you have any further questions about the game don’t be afraid to comment!
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After diving deep into the world of Final Girl, especially facing off against Hans the Butcher at the infamous Camp Happy Trails, I've gathered some insights I wish I knew when I first started. This game truly embodies the slasher film experience, and each killer and location combo presents a fresh, terrifying challenge. Let's talk about Hans the Butcher. He's relentless, and his ability to quickly down victims and increase his own power can feel overwhelming. My first few games against him at Camp Happy Trails, I found myself constantly on the defensive. What I learned is that you cannot ignore the victims, but you also can't sacrifice your own survival for them. Hans loves to target victims, and if he gets too many kills, his stats can become incredibly difficult to overcome. Managing the 'Horror' track is crucial; if your horror gets too high, your dice rolls become less effective, making it harder to pull off those critical hits or desperate escapes. Similarly, keeping an eye on the 'Time' track lets you plan your actions effectively, ensuring you have the right cards when you need them against Hans's powerful attacks. Camp Happy Trails itself offers a unique environment. The different locations like the Lake, Cabins, and Firepit provide various tactical opportunities and bottlenecks. I found that creating distance and using the map to funnel Hans into specific areas where I could set traps or prepare for an attack was often more effective than direct confrontation early on. Knowing where victims tend to spawn and planning your movement to rescue them efficiently, while also searching for key items, is a delicate balance. Sometimes, leaving a victim to draw Hans's attention while you secure a powerful weapon can be a valid, albeit grim, strategy. When playing as a specific Final Girl, like Laurie (whose character card depicts her with 5 hearts and unique actions), understanding her unique abilities is key. Laurie might have specific action cards or stats that make her better at certain tasks, perhaps movement or item searching. Tailoring your strategy to her strengths against Hans's weaknesses is a game-changer. For example, if Laurie can quickly search, prioritizing finding that bear trap or powerful weapon becomes a high priority. Ultimately, surviving Hans the Butcher at Camp Happy Trails in Final Girl comes down to a blend of careful planning and adaptability. Don't be afraid to retreat, gather resources, and choose your battles. The game is designed to be tough, but with each playthrough, you'll learn Hans's patterns and the best ways to navigate Camp Happy Trails. It's a thrill to finally land those critical hits and see Hans's health dwindle, knowing you've strategically outmaneuvered the killer. Keep experimenting with different item combinations and action card sequences – you might discover a winning strategy that turns the tide when you least expect it!