Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
A breath-taking micro-game for those who love adrenaline and portability.
Highlights
- Very engaging risk mechanics
- Extremely portable and compact
- Quick and tense decisions
- Smart and minimalist design
Keep in mind
- Might be too short for some
- Requires focus on hazards
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Picture this: sunlight streaming through the windshield, your favorite playlist blasting, and snacks scattered in the cup holder. It sounds like the perfect road trip, but things can get intense when you drive through Death Valley! In Death Valley, you play as a traveler striving to build the ultimate scrapbook and the most epic journey possible. This is a super compact tableau-building game, perfect for a quick adrenaline hit in just a few minutes.
The core mechanic is a constant balancing act between wanting to progress and the fear of losing it all. Each turn, you must decide: do you add the card to your journey or move it to your scrapbook? But don't let the simplicity fool you; every card carries a hidden hazard—extreme heat, tough terrain, floods, or even wild animals. If you end up with three identical hazards visible in your tableau, you 'bust' and lose all your journey's progress. It's that classic 'push your luck' tension that keeps you on edge!
Beyond being a minimalist card game, it was a standout in a Button Shy design contest, which guarantees top-notch mechanics for its size. It's perfect for solo play or with a friend, taking up almost no space in your bag. If you love fast-paced games with tense decisions that fit in your pocket, Death Valley is your next must-play destination!
The core mechanic is a constant balancing act between wanting to progress and the fear of losing it all. Each turn, you must decide: do you add the card to your journey or move it to your scrapbook? But don't let the simplicity fool you; every card carries a hidden hazard—extreme heat, tough terrain, floods, or even wild animals. If you end up with three identical hazards visible in your tableau, you 'bust' and lose all your journey's progress. It's that classic 'push your luck' tension that keeps you on edge!
Beyond being a minimalist card game, it was a standout in a Button Shy design contest, which guarantees top-notch mechanics for its size. It's perfect for solo play or with a friend, taking up almost no space in your bag. If you love fast-paced games with tense decisions that fit in your pocket, Death Valley is your next must-play destination!
Expansions
Published additional content
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
REC
2
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Button Shy, Banana Games, Geekach LLC, KOSMOS, Matagot, Salt & Pepper Games
Designer
Kevin Ellenburg
Artist
Fachri Maulana
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
5,014owners
770wishlist
53want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How long does a game take?
Super quick, about 15 minutes!
Can I play solo?
Absolutely! It's designed to be great both solo and for two players.
How complex is it?
Easy to learn, but the risk of busting keeps the tension high.
Does it come with physical components?
This is a Print & Play version, you print it and play!
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, due to its simplicity, though the 'bust' mechanic can be intense for younger ones.
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