Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Perfect for those who love betrayal games and want to feel the tension of a horror movie at the table.
Highlights
- Immersive paranoia atmosphere
- Incredible fidelity to the movie
- Engaging bluffing dynamics
- High-quality thematic components
Keep in mind
- Learning curve for beginners
- Reliance on external translations
Rules manual not indexed yet
Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.
About the game
What you do in a play session
Ever had that feeling of looking at your best friend and wondering, 'Are you actually you, or are you a monster trying to eat me?'. That's exactly what The Thing brings to the table. The game transports the suffocating paranoia of the classic movie into a tabletop experience where trust is a scarce and dangerous resource.
In the game, most of you are humans trying to survive in Outpost 31, but there's an intruder: The Thing. The humans' goal is simple yet difficult: keep the base running and escape. To achieve this, you must manage the boiler and the generator to avoid freezing or being left in the dark, while also ensuring everyone is fed. The Thing, however, has a very different agenda. It wants to infect others, sabotage the facilities, and prevent the escape at all costs. The best part? The Thing can camouflage itself, pretending to be a cooperative human until the perfect moment to strike.
The map faithfully reproduces the rooms from the film, and each room offers specific actions that drive the plot forward. Tension escalates as the lights go out and suspicions grow. Will you vote to decide who the traitor is? Will you trust the person who claims they were just fixing the generator? The psychological depth is the heart of the game, turning the session into a duel of bluffs and deduction. If you enjoy hidden role games where betrayal is the norm and paranoia is the main mechanic, get ready, because nobody is safe at Outpost 31.
In the game, most of you are humans trying to survive in Outpost 31, but there's an intruder: The Thing. The humans' goal is simple yet difficult: keep the base running and escape. To achieve this, you must manage the boiler and the generator to avoid freezing or being left in the dark, while also ensuring everyone is fed. The Thing, however, has a very different agenda. It wants to infect others, sabotage the facilities, and prevent the escape at all costs. The best part? The Thing can camouflage itself, pretending to be a cooperative human until the perfect moment to strike.
The map faithfully reproduces the rooms from the film, and each room offers specific actions that drive the plot forward. Tension escalates as the lights go out and suspicions grow. Will you vote to decide who the traitor is? Will you trust the person who claims they were just fixing the generator? The psychological depth is the heart of the game, turning the session into a duel of bluffs and deduction. If you enjoy hidden role games where betrayal is the norm and paranoia is the main mechanic, get ready, because nobody is safe at Outpost 31.
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
OK
2
OK
3
OK
4
OK
5
REC
6
REC
7
BEST
8
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
Loading playlist...
Where to Buy
Prices monitored daily
Finding best prices...
Prices unavailable at this time.
Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
Alert enabled!
Join the BoardGamesBot deals group
Get the best board game deals every day — without message spam.
Join the WhatsApp groupGame details
Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Pendragon Game Studio, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Delta Vision Publishing, Galakta, Geekach LLC, Gen-X Games (GenX), Hobby World, Matagot
Designer
Andrea Crespi, Giuseppe Cicero
Artist
Davide Corsi, Riccardo Crosa
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
6,480owners
1,983wishlist
199want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Is the game too complex for casual players?
It's rated as 'Expert', meaning it has some denser rules. If you're familiar with traitor games, it'll be easier, but newcomers might need a detailed walkthrough.
How many people can play?
The game supports 1 to 8 players, but the paranoia experience truly shines with larger groups.
How long does a game last?
Expect to spend between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on how much time you spend arguing over who the traitor is!
Do I need to have seen the movie to play?
It's not mandatory, but it helps a lot with immersion since the map and actions are based on the movie's settings.
Is it a fully cooperative game?
No, it's semi-cooperative. While humans must work together to survive, the hidden traitor is actively working against them.
Other Games You'll Like
Based on mechanics and theme