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Theseus: The Dark Orbit

Theseus: The Dark Orbit

Game Information

Publisher
Designer
Portal

Theseus: The Dark Orbit puts players in the heart of a conflict between five factions trapped on the eponymous space station in deep space. Only one can survive.

Command the marine forces! Use deadly weaponry, setting traps and mines in corridors to defend the human race.

Command the alien race! Use secret passages and ventilation ducts to launch surprise attacks and grow small aliens to take control of the station.

Command the scientists! Use computers and technological devices to gather data and record information about other inhabitants of the station.

Command the Greys race! Use their mind powers to control the enemy and use them for your own purposes.

The fifth faction? It's a mystery. It's precisely why you made the trek to Theseus, and it's precisely why you will die.

In Theseus: The Dark Orbit, players move their pawns around the space station and activate the abilities of different rooms. Every move you take changes the movement possibilities of your opponent. On your turn, you need to think about which room you want to reach and (in addition) how to mess your opponent's movement, which leads to great choices and meaningful decisions. Rooms abilities change during the game as players install trait cards that give rooms new abilities and skills. Players create Theseus during gameplay by placing traps, smart guns, secret passages and many other features. In every game Theseus looks different; in every game it's deadly for you in a new way.

Rules for team play allow players to engage in incredibly emotional 2-vs-2 battles. With perfectly balanced factions, players will be able to fight engaging and deadly battles as a teams. Each faction has a unique deck of cards, and before the game starts, you discard ten cards from the deck. In basic mode you discard at random, while in tournament (master) mode you choose cards and build your deck. With five factions and 110 cards, the game can provide years of unique experiences.


Editor reviews

2 reviews

Rating 
 
5.0
Rating 
 
4.5
Theseus is a fun, confrontational, quick playing game. The mancala setup gives you a focused decision space that is nevertheless rich in long term thinking (with 2 players, at least). Theseus is all about disempowering your opponent, rather than empowering yourself, which is a brave choice.

User reviews

2 reviews

5 stars
 
(0)
4 stars
 
(1)
3 stars
 
(0)
2 stars
 
(1)
1 star
 
(0)
Rating 
 
3.0
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4.0
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hotseatgames's Avatar
hotseatgames replied the topic: #291020 29 Jan 2019 17:04
One of the best games I own. I don't play it nearly enough.
DukeofChutney's Avatar
DukeofChutney replied the topic: #291026 29 Jan 2019 17:13
my most recent acquisition, cost me only £15 for a second hand copy. Not played it yet but keen.
Jackwraith's Avatar
Jackwraith replied the topic: #291031 29 Jan 2019 18:06

hotseatgames wrote: One of the best games I own. I don't play it nearly enough.


Same. And same.
Gary Sax's Avatar
Gary Sax replied the topic: #291035 29 Jan 2019 18:19
This game is so fucking good and kind of unusual. I wrote a mechanic review on this site way back that Theseus is a game about traps and limiting options, not about empowering players. I still strongly feel that way. It's about forcing your opponent to destroy themselves through their moves.
stoic's Avatar
stoic replied the topic: #291041 29 Jan 2019 18:48
Da Bid Dabid's Avatar
Da Bid Dabid replied the topic: #291055 29 Jan 2019 20:15
Love it, amazing game. Please someone teach me how to get better.
Jackwraith's Avatar
Jackwraith replied the topic: #291067 29 Jan 2019 23:26
Have an article on it coming out next week...
ubarose's Avatar
ubarose replied the topic: #291068 30 Jan 2019 00:04
Since so many people are keen on discussing this game I’ve gone ahead and published Marc’s article. Go check it out.
Gary Sax's Avatar
Gary Sax replied the topic: #291075 30 Jan 2019 08:16

stoic wrote: Love and recommend the game!

therewillbe.games/forum/35-mos-eisley-ca...ng?start=2850#201799


Wanted to call out stoic here in a good way---if you've written some epic post in the forums about the game in question, these game entry listings threads are also great place to (organically) drop a link to them. Normal non-forum goers popping through to check out articles are more likely to click on the game entry discussion thread so might actually get linked to some of the amazing forum posts buried in, say,the board games played perpetual thread or a two year old discussion of a game that doesn't even have the game's name in the title.
Legomancer's Avatar
Legomancer replied the topic: #291081 30 Jan 2019 08:52
excellent game!