# The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2017
- **BGG Rating**: 7.2
- **BGG Rank**: #2296
- **Players**: 4-8 (Best with: 8)
- **Duration**: 60-120 min
- **Weight**: 2.33 / 5
- **Designers**: Joe Van Wetering
- **Artists**: Justin Erickson, Mark Simpson (II)
- **Publishers**: Mondo Games, The Op Games, Project Raygun
- **Categories**: Bluffing, Deduction, Horror, Movies / TV / Radio theme, Science Fiction, Spies / Secret Agents
- **Mechanics**: Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Hidden Roles, Role Playing, Team-Based Game, Traitor Game, Variable Player Powers, Voting

## Verdict
If you love paranoia and bluffing, you’ll dig the tension of hunting the alien.Immersive horror atmosphereWell‑integrated deduction mechanicsDetailed miniaturesRules are a bit heavyLong playtimeHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
At the onset of the Antarctic winter, the NSF team stationed at the cramped Outpost 31 sees their routine turned into a nightmare when a hostile alien organism infiltrates the base, perfectly mimicking one of the researchers. In The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31, each player takes on one of twelve characters, each with unique abilities, and tries to clear the facility using supplies, equipment, and a lot of investigation. Each round involves dice rolls to resolve tests while managing a hand of cards that represent resources, clues, and special actions. The core tension stems from hidden‑role mechanics: some players are humans, others are the shape‑shifting creature, and no one knows who is who. Paranoia escalates as the group votes on who to isolate or eliminate, and trust shatters at the climax. The game blends dice rolling, hand management, voting, and variable player powers within a horror‑science‑fiction atmosphere inspired by John Carpenter’s cult classic. Sessions last 60‑120 minutes for 4‑8 players, delivering a frantic race to uncover and eradicate the infection before the terror spreads beyond the outpost. High‑quality components, including detailed miniatures and contamination markers, boost immersion. While the rulebook demands a modest learning curve, the experience rewards fans of deduction, bluffing, and atmospheric horror.

## FAQ
### How many players can join?
4 to 8 players, best with a medium‑sized group.

### What is the typical playtime?
60–120 minutes, varying with player count and familiarity.

### How complex is the game?
BGG weight 2.3 – moderate rules, needing focus on hidden roles and voting.

### What components are included?
Character miniatures, resource cards, infection markers, custom dice, and a base map board.

### Who should buy this game?
Fans of horror, sci‑fi, and deduction/bluff games, especially those who love the film.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 86.40 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4108162&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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