This action counts as the SHOOT action, meaning in the following round of combat players can choose whether to continue with Ranged Combat or begin Close Combat. Another negative point is that some of the cards in the game are extremely similar. When playing multiple times, it was often difficult to tell if we had already used that same card before. Overall this makes the game feel repetitive even if players actually experience different encounters. Final Thoughts: IMPORTANT—The fight action must be taken by at least one member of the crew each round of Close Combat.

Important: If the SHOOT action is not declared by at least one player then Ranged Combat does not take place and no Ranged Combat actions can be taken. Instead, a round of Close Combat begins meaning only Close Combat actions or Standard Combat Actions can be taken. Dicebreaker is owned by Gamer Network Limited, a ReedPop company and subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions Limited. Final Score: 2.5 stars – Escape the Dark Sector is a good game, but issues with replay value and hard to understand rules make for a less fun escape. The functions of each drone are described in detail below and summarised on the drone cards themselves for easy reference during play.The actions available to members of the crew during Ranged Combat are SHOOT and FLANK, along with all Standard Combat Actions • Shoot

New Mechanic: Time Travel! With every turn of a chapter card, hold your breath as you risk plummeting through a rift in time, coming face to face with deadly threats from the distant past. The rules of the game are quite simple, but we do recommend you read this rule book in full before your first game, even if you have played another game in the Escape the Dark series before - there are plenty of differences. The clearest change in Escape the Dark Sector is its setting. Featuring mangled cyborgs, oozing orifices and space mercenaries getting aggro in a bar, Dark Sector takes its cues from grimy science-fiction films from the late ‘70s and ‘80s - think Alien, The Thing and Videodrome. There’s nothing especially unique here; if you have any interest in sci-fi horror then you’ve probably seen it all before. But it doesn’t stop the illustration of a space prison guard dropping a cigarette from their gawping mouth feel any less charming in an old-school kind of way. Dark Sector isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it captures the imagination in small ways that make it worth sharing with others. IMPORTANT—If it was not used during Ranged Combat, turn the flank card to the Flank Unavailable side. This action cannot be taken in Close Combat.As these immersive chapter cards are revealed one by one, the game takes on the form of a shared storybook experience, with the players making decisions about what to do each chapter before using a combination of dice and item cards to complete the task before them. The goal of the game is to complete every chapter, and then defeat the final boss. To win, you must keep each member of the crew alive - if any player is killed the game ends immediately! Along the way, players will gather loot cards. These are usually helpful items such as weapons, healing devices, and other objects that can be used throughout the game. However, each character can only hold four items, and some count for two slots instead of one. Players will need to decide which to keep and which to drop. This symbol means you must roll an additional chapter die for each member of the crew and add them to the row. For example, with two members of the crew you would roll two additional chapter dice when you see this symbol. Escape the Dark Sector is a good adventure game. With two types of combat, the gameplay is engaging with decisions to make such as being able to choose your type of combat and what weapon to use. With so much combat in the game, it’s important that this is well-polished and a good mechanism. edge at the top, the MUTATION has granted the crewmember a new ability to draw upon during the mission. The text on the card will tell you what the ability does and when it can be activated.

Full disclosure: a review copy of Escape the Dark Sector along with the official playmat was kindly provided by publisher Themeborne COMPONENTS Items in a crewmember’s inventory can be used by them at any time, unless the item card itself indicates otherwise. You cannot use items in the inventory of another member of the crew. Whenever new item cards are drawn into the item pool, crewmembers can exchange items with each other.Take a new medical record sheet for each member of the crew, write their name on it, and mark the starting hp with a dot as shown below. Although it is definitely part of the B-movie sci fi madness that is the Dark Sector there is a definite tonal shift. Although in saying that the art of the new cards is beautiful and a refreshing difference from the previous artworks. I think it comes down completely to personal preference whether you enjoy the theme or not but even if you do not care for the time travel shenanigans there are still several encounters that stay on theme and can be mixed in straight out of the box. A combat drone armed with an array of weaponry and targeting systems, capable of accurately striking enemy weak points. IMPORTANT—For one or more crewmembers to take any of the following actions, at least one other crewmember must be taking the SHOOT action (if in Ranged Combat) or the fight action (if in Close Combat). If you’re only interested in receiving the newest games this is the box for you; guaranteeing only the latest games! Buy New Releases Box »

The quality of the components is high. The cards and dice are all great and enjoyable to use. The time travelling theme is also quite interesting as it is a fair break from the standard sci fi darkness that is the core of Dark Sector. It can also be a bit jarring as one moment you are raiding a mutant inhabited shanty town and then you are on a desert island looking for pirate gold. It is a little immersion breaking, especially if you are making use of the Dark Sector Spotify playlist (Which is highly recommended that you do).

Review Summary

There are three things in life that I love, apart from my children of course: science-fiction, evocative art, and solitaire games. The idea then to be able to combine these individual elements into a holy trinity is an alluring proposition to say the least. This is the premise for Escape the Dark Sector, the spiritual sequel to Escape the Dark Castle from publisher Themeborne. Designed by Alex Crispin, Thomas Pike, and James Shelton this space themed game design caught my interest for two reasons: the artwork and the promise of a heavy emphasis on story, two things that makes me purr like a kitten. Let us take a closer look to see if Escape the Dark Sector manages to deliver on these vows. After all players have fully resolved their chosen action, the round ends. If there are still chapter dice laid out beneath the chapter card, begin the next round of Close Combat by declaring actions as a crew and then simultaneously carrying them out.