Overview

Godforsaken Scavengers is a survival card game by Drawblack Games set in a dark and deadly insect world. Players take the role of desperate survivors trying to cross several unique and dangerous areas. The core mechanic is push-your-luck scavenging: each turn, players choose a scavenge pile and reveal cards, hoping to find useful resources while avoiding perils that destroy gathered cards and inflict afflictions. The game supports co-op, semi-co-op, versus, and solo scenario modes.

Components

• Scavenge deck (resource cards, peril cards, action cards)
• Affliction cards
• Area/scenario cards
• Character cards (optional)
• Caravan cards (optional)
• Instructions

Setup

1. Select a scenario mode (solo, co-op, semi-co-op, or versus).
2. Each player selects a character (if using character abilities).
3. Prepare the scavenge deck according to the scenario.
4. Set aside affliction cards within reach.
5. Follow scenario-specific setup instructions for area cards and goals.

Turn Structure

Each round follows this sequence:

1. Divide the Scavenge Deck

Split the scavenge deck into three draw piles.

2. Scavenge (Push Your Luck)

Choose one of the three scavenge piles and begin revealing cards one at a time:

• Useful cards: Keep revealed resource and action cards.
• Peril cards: If a peril is revealed, all revealed cards are discarded and the player receives an affliction.
• Stop voluntarily: At any point before revealing a peril, you may stop and keep all revealed cards.

3. Use Card Actions

Spend cards from your hand to perform actions such as:

• Canceling perils
• Healing afflictions
• Improving scavenging efficiency
• Other card-specific effects

4. Feed

At the end of the turn, players must burn cards from their hand to feed themselves. Cards have numerical values used for this purpose. If you cannot feed yourself, you starve (gaining an affliction or other penalty).

Actions

Scavenging

• The core push-your-luck mechanic.
• Reveal cards from a chosen pile one at a time.
• Perils end your scavenging and inflict afflictions.
• Cards serve dual purposes: resource value for feeding and action abilities.

Healing

• Certain cards can be used to remove afflictions.
• Managing afflictions is critical to survival.

Card Actions

• Cards provide various effects beyond feeding and scavenging.
• Strategic use of card actions can mitigate bad luck and improve efficiency.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory conditions depend on the scenario:

• Co-op/Solo: Survive and cross all required areas. Complete scenario-specific goals.
• Semi-co-op: Cooperate to survive while pursuing individual objectives.
• Versus: Outlast other players or achieve victory conditions first.
• Campaign mode: Progress through multiple sessions with story-driven choices, random area generation, and variable goals.

Loss condition: Accumulating three afflictions results in death and elimination from the game.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Three afflictions = death: Accumulating three afflictions eliminates a player from the game. Managing and healing afflictions is essential.
• Dual-use cards: Each card serves multiple purposes (feeding value, action ability, resource), forcing difficult choices about when to eat resources vs. use them for actions.
• Starvation: Failing to feed at the end of a turn has negative consequences (typically an affliction).
• Scenario variety: The game includes multiple scenario modes (solo, co-op, semi-co-op, versus) that significantly change the rules and level of player cooperation.
• Campaign mode: Supports multi-session campaign play with area generation, story choices, and persistent progress.
• Character abilities: Optional character powers add asymmetric capabilities.
• Caravan system: Optional caravan cards provide extra resources but require maintenance.

Player Reference

Core loop: Divide deck into 3 piles > Choose pile > Push your luck > Use actions > Feed

Peril: Revealed during scavenging; destroys all revealed cards + inflicts affliction

Death: 3 afflictions = eliminated

Feeding: Must burn cards (by value) at end of turn or suffer penalties

Modes: Solo, Co-op, Semi-co-op, Versus, Campaign