# Fuga de Creta

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2022
- **BGG Rating**: 6.8
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-4
- **Duration**: 30-40 min
- **Weight**: —
- **Designers**: Eurico Cunha Neto, Vinícius Alvim
- **Artists**: Eduardo Nonato
- **Publishers**: Calamity Games
- **Categories**: Ancient, Card Game, Maze
- **Mechanics**: Action Points, Map Addition, Speed Matching

## Verdict
Great for puzzle lovers looking for a twist on escape games. Here, the long way around is the winning way!Well-balanced god powersTwo distinct gameplay modesDynamic modular boardRewarding set collection scoringLearning curve in challenge modeRequires strong spatial reasoningRECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready to enter the Minotaur's labyrinth! In Fuga de Creta, you lead a group of heroes desperate to escape the island, but they aren't leaving without some valuable trophies. The twist here is that, unlike most escape games, you aren't looking for the shortest path. The longer your hero's journey to the exit, the more points you score, turning the game into a strategic puzzle where every single tile matters.

You'll have the help of the Greek gods to ease the journey. Each player controls heroes devoted to Athena, Hermes, and Ares, and each deity offers a unique power: Athena allows strategic repositioning, Hermes opens paths mid-movement, and Ares is the only one capable of facing the fearsome Minotaur. You'll need plenty of wit to rearrange the modular board tiles and craft the perfect route.

The game offers two very distinct experiences. In the traditional mode, gameplay is turn-based, where you use action points to move your heroes and collect trophies of five different types (which provide exponential bonuses if you collect sets). In the challenge mode, the vibe shifts completely: it's a simultaneous race of quick thinking. All players face the same labyrinth and must mentally plan the longest possible path in a very short time. Whoever manages the longest route wins the challenge. It's a game that blends the patience of a puzzle with the adrenaline of direct competition, perfect for those who love testing their spatial awareness under pressure.

## How to Play
Game Objective
In Escape from Crete, you control heroes trapped in the confusing labyrinth of the Minotaur's Island. The main objective is to lead your heroes from the central Temple to the island's exits at the corners of the map. Upon reaching the exits, you collect valuable trophies and accumulate points through created paths and special achievements.
The game offers two game modes: Island Escape and Challenge of the Gods.

Setup
To play Island Escape mode, follow these steps:

    Randomly create a 6 x 6 labyrinth tile island, positioning the exits at the edges and the temple in the center.
    Place one trophy of each color (there are 5 colors) in each of the 4 exits.
    Shuffle the remaining labyrinth tiles to form a deck and place it face down next to the board.
    Flip 3 labyrinth tiles and place them next to the board. If a tile is a minotaur, replace it with a simple tile from the deck (shuffle the minotaur back in).
    Each player chooses a hero color and places all their heroes in the central temple.
    Give one score sheet to each player.


Gameplay Flow
In Island Escape mode, players play clockwise. During your turn, you must perform:

    Up to two actions (which may be repeated).
    One movement action.

Pro tip: For experienced players, it is recommended to use a timer of 1min and 30s for the two actions. If time runs out, the player loses their turn.

In Challenge of the Gods mode, rounds are simultaneous. Players attempt to visualize the longest path to an exit and announce their intention. After the announcement, the timer is started and players compete to announce longer paths until time runs out.

Actions and How to Play
In Island Escape mode, the available actions are:

    Rotate a labyrinth tile: Rotate a labyrinth tile to any angle to create new paths. You cannot rotate tiles with a minotaur, an exit, or the temple on them.
    Swap two labyrinth tiles: Swap two orthogonally adjacent labyrinth tiles (maintaining their original orientation). You cannot swap tiles with a minotaur, an exit, or the temple.
    Replace a labyrinth tile: Replace any labyrinth tile (including a minotaur) with one of the tiles in display. The removed tile goes to the discard pile. You cannot replace tiles with a hero, exit, or temple.


Movement Action: The player moves a hero along a clear path to its conclusion. The hero cannot stop in the middle of a path before traversing the entire clear section. Heroes cannot pass through other hero tiles or through a minotaur (except for the devotee of Ares). If the hero reaches an exit, the labyrinth tiles of the path traveled are removed and replaced with new random tiles from the deck.

Blessings of the Gods (Special Abilities)
Each hero is a devotee of a god, granting an ability during the movement action:

    Ares: Can move through minotaur tiles as if they were simple tiles.
    Athena: Can position the devotee on any tile in the second row (outer row), but not directly on the exit. Upon reaching the exit, collects two trophy tokens.
    Hermes: Allows performing one free rotate action at the end of movement, on the tile where the hero stopped.


End of Game and Scoring
End of Game: In Island Escape mode, the game ends when one player removes all their heroes from the island. In Challenge of the Gods mode, the game ends after the resolution of 11 challenge cards.

Scoring (Island Escape):

    Labyrinth Tiles: Each labyrinth tile collected is worth 1 point.
    Trophies: Each trophy collected is worth points according to a table (e.g., 1 trophy = 3 points; 10 trophies = 36 points).
    Achievement "Most Heroes at the Same Exit": 5 points for the player with the most heroes at a single exit (no ties).
    Achievement "Most Trophies of the Same Color": 5 points for the player with the most trophies of the same color (no ties).
    Achievement "Most Labyrinth Tiles": 5 points for the player who collects the highest total number of labyrinth tiles (no ties).

The winner is the player with the highest total score. In case of a tie, the player who played last wins.

Scoring (Challenge of the Gods):

    Each successfully resolved challenge card is worth 1 point.
    Each unresolved challenge card is worth -1 point.

In case of a tie, the player with the fewest negative cards wins.

Tips for Winning

    Build trophy sets: In Island Escape mode, pay attention to paths to obtain trophies that allow you to complete sets and earn extra points.
    Plan the path: Choose your paths wisely to maximize the collection of labyrinth tiles and trophies simultaneously.

## FAQ
### Is the game complex?
It's not overly complex, but it requires careful tile placement. Since it's a puzzle, the 'difficulty' lies in planning the optimal route.

### How long does a game last?
Usually between 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the number of players and the chosen game mode.

### Does it work well with 2 players?
Yes, the game supports 2 to 4 players, keeping the competitive edge in both turn-based and speed modes.

### Who is this game for?
Anyone who enjoys abstract strategy, puzzles, and Greek mythology themes.

### What happens if I take the shortest path?
You'll escape the labyrinth faster, but you'll score fewer points. The core challenge is balancing the exit with the path's length.

### Is the challenge mode too hard?
It requires mental agility. You have very little time to calculate the route, creating a thrilling competitive tension.

## Price Comparison
### Best Offers in Brazil
- **Brechó Lúdico**: R$ 54,31 (https://brecholudico.com.br/produto/fuga-de-creta/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **Livtoys**: R$ 68,82 (https://www.livtoys.com.br/boardgames/jogo-fuga-de-creta?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **Bota na Mesa**: R$ 72,00 (https://www.botanamesa.com.br/product-page/fuga-de-creta?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **Border Jogos**: R$ 80,91 (https://www.borderjogos.com.br/editoras/devir/fuga-de-creta?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **Boar Games**: R$ 82,77 (https://www.boargames.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro/boargames-leves-e-pra-familia/fuga-de-creta?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **Kobold Games**: R$ 83,70 (https://www.kobold.games/produtos/fuga-de-creta/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/fuga-de-creta