How to play Last Night on Earth: rules, setup and how to win explained

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By: Mark Davis

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Last Night on Earth is an immersive and highly thematic board game that plunges players into the heart of a classic zombie apocalypse. Set in the fictional town of Woodinvale, players assume the roles of either courageous survivors or relentless zombies.

As survivors, players must work together to complete various objectives, such as finding vital supplies, saving trapped townsfolk, and fortifying their defenses against the ever-advancing horde of undead. Meanwhile, players who embrace the role of the zombies aim to hunt down the survivors and spread chaos throughout the town.

With a variety of scenarios, each offering a unique set of challenges and objectives, Last Night on Earth delivers thrilling and suspenseful gameplay that appeals to both fans of horror movies and board game enthusiasts. Whether you’re strategizing as a survivor or savoring the chaos as a zombie player, Last Night on Earth captures the tension and excitement of surviving the night in a world overrun by the undead.

What’s included in Last Night on Earth

  • Game Board: The board represents the town of Woodinvale, divided into several locations.
  • Hero and Zombie Miniatures: These represent the characters and zombies in the game.
  • Character Cards: Each player receives a character card, which provides their unique abilities.
  • Hero and Zombie Decks: These decks contain cards for both heroes and zombies, including weapons, items, events, and more.
  • Scenario Cards: These cards determine the objectives and events for each game.
  • Zombie Spawn Tokens: These indicate where and when new zombies appear on the board.
  • Wound Tokens: Heroes use these to track damage.
  • Dice: You’ll need 6-sided dice for combat and other actions.

How to play Last Night on Earth

Last Night on Earth is an immersive and thematic board game that simulates the tension and action of a classic zombie apocalypse. It’s typically played by 2-6 players and can take 60-90 minutes to complete. Here’s a detailed guide on how to play:

Setup

  1. Choose a Scenario: Decide which scenario you want to play and set up the board and components accordingly. Each scenario has specific rules and objectives.
  2. Character Selection: Players choose their hero characters and receive their character cards along with any starting equipment.
  3. Zombie Player: If there is a zombie player, they collect zombie cards and spawn tokens.
  4. Objective Tokens: Place objective tokens on the board as indicated by the scenario.
  5. Hero Player Order: Determine the player order for the hero players.
  6. Zombie Player Setup: The zombie player sets up zombies on the board according to the scenario’s instructions.
  7. Starting the Game: The hero player with the first player token takes the first turn.

Rules for Last Night on Earth

Last Night on Earth is played in rounds, with each round consisting of three phases:

  1. Hero Phase:
    • Players take turns clockwise, starting with the first player.
    • Each hero gets a limited number of actions, such as moving, searching for items, attacking zombies, and using items. They can perform these actions in any order.
    • Heroes can trade items among themselves during their turn.
    • Heroes can also engage in combat with zombies in the same location, rolling dice to determine the outcome.
  2. Zombie Phase:
    • The zombie player takes their turn after all heroes have completed their actions.
    • The zombie player draws a zombie card, which may spawn new zombies, move existing ones, or trigger events.
    • Zombies automatically attack heroes in their location, and combat is resolved using dice rolls.
  3. End Phase:
    • Check if the heroes have completed the scenario objectives. If they have, they win. Otherwise, continue to the next round.
    • Pass the first player token clockwise to the next player.
    • Remove any wound tokens from characters.

Winning the Game: The game can end in one of two ways:

  • If the heroes complete the scenario objectives, they win.
  • If the zombies eliminate all the heroes, the zombie player wins.

For the official rules, see the link below:

How to win Last Night on Earth

Hero Strategies

  1. Stick Together: Teamwork is crucial. Heroes should stick together to maximize their combat effectiveness and increase their chances of achieving scenario objectives.
  2. Prioritize Objectives: Focus on completing the scenario’s objectives early. These objectives often dictate the course of the game, and delaying them can lead to a more challenging endgame.
  3. Resource Management: Manage your resources efficiently. Items, weapons, and cards are valuable, so use them strategically. Don’t waste ammunition on low-priority targets, and trade items to benefit the team.
  4. Defensive Positions: When dealing with a large zombie horde, find defensible positions like buildings with barricades. These locations can help you control the flow of zombies and protect your heroes.
  5. Character Abilities: Make the most of your character’s special abilities. Some abilities can be game-changing, so use them wisely to gain an advantage.
  6. Combat Decisions: In combat, consider the odds and risks. Sometimes it’s better to evade a zombie rather than engage in a high-risk fight. Retreat to regroup if necessary.

Zombie Strategies

  1. Horde Management: As the zombie player, manage your horde strategically. Spread your zombies out to pressure multiple locations simultaneously and increase your chances of infecting heroes.
  2. Focus on Objectives: Prioritize disrupting the heroes’ attempts to complete scenario objectives. If they need to reach specific locations or gather items, block their paths and deny them access.
  3. Zombie Abilities: Utilize zombie abilities and events effectively. Some zombies have unique abilities that can create chaos or hinder the heroes. Coordinate these abilities with your horde movements.
  4. Infect Heroes: Infecting heroes can be more valuable than outright killing them. Infected heroes can turn into zombies, bolstering your forces and putting additional pressure on the remaining heroes.
  5. Adapt to the Situation: Stay flexible in your strategy. Heroes will make unpredictable moves, so adapt to their actions and use your zombies to exploit weaknesses in their defenses.
  6. Divide and Conquer: If heroes separate or spread themselves too thin, capitalize on this by targeting isolated characters. Isolated heroes are more vulnerable to zombie attacks.

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