Hellapagos*
Hellapagos is a game of survival and treachery, aptly termed a "co-opetition," where players must cooperate to some extent but ultimately look out for themselves. Stranded on a desert island with limited resources, up to twelve players must negotiate and strategize to gather supplies, build a raft, and escape before a looming hurricane destroys everything. However, not all players may make it off the island due to the scarce availability of food and water.
Gameplay Overview
- Resource Management: Players collect scarce resources like water and food to survive while contributing to the raft construction.
- Strategic Negotiation: Cooperation is necessary, but as resources dwindle, players face tough decisions about who gets to stay and who must go.
Special Features
- Survival Mechanics: The game emphasizes survival under resource constraints, forcing players into difficult decisions.
- Escape Objective: Building a raft is the ultimate goal, but only a limited number of players can escape, leading to fierce competition and alliances.
Conclusion
Hellapagos combines elements of cooperation with cutthroat competition, creating a tense and engaging gameplay environment. It's ideal for larger groups looking for a game that blends strategy, social deduction, and negotiation with the dramatic setting of a survival adventure. Whether forming temporary alliances or making tough decisions for the greater good, players will find themselves immersed in a desperate race against time and nature.
Nominated for 1 award.
- 3 - 12 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
We like Hellapagos so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2024
- Position 18 in The best board games for exactly 5 players
- Position 35 in The best games presented at the Spiel 2017 game fair in Essen, Germany
- Position 27 in The best games with alternating starting player each round
- Position 21 in The best negotiation games 🤝
- Position 5 in The best semi-cooperative board games 🤝