Nyctophobia

Overview

Nyctophobia is a cooperative survival horror game where 2-4 Hunted players wear blackout glasses and navigate a forest board entirely by touch and communication, while 1 Hunter player (who can see the board) stalks them. The Hunted must find their car and escape before the Hunter eliminates them all. The Hunter plays as either an Axe Murderer or a Mage, each with unique action cards.

Components

• 1 Board (8x8 grid of holes)
• 4 Blackout glasses
• 4 Hunted player pieces, 1 Hunter piece
• ~40 Removable trees, 7 Rock tokens
• 1 Hunter wound token, 9 Health tokens, 1 Noise token, 1 Car token
• 6 Character cards, 4 Character piece reference cards
• 12 Mage action cards, 12 Axe Murderer action cards

Setup

1. Select one player as the Hunter. Hunter chooses Axe Murderer or Mage role and takes that action deck.
2. Hunter secretly builds the board using a premade scenario or custom layout while Hunted players look away.
3. Place directional cards (N, E, S, W) around the board.
4. Each Hunted player receives: 1 rock, 2 health tokens, 1 character piece + reference card + character card, and blackout glasses.
5. Hunter places Hunted pieces and car per scenario. Adds (number of players - 1) rocks randomly to the board.
6. Hunter gives Hunted a one-directional clue to the car’s location (N, S, E, or W).
7. Hunted players put on blackout glasses. They must never look at the board.
8. Hunter draws 2 action cards. First Hunted player is to the left of the Hunter.

Turn Structure

Hunted Player Turn

1. Feel your surroundings: Touch adjacent spaces to detect trees, edges, rocks, or empty spaces.
2. Move: Move 0-2 spaces in cardinal directions (N/S/E/W). Cannot move through trees.
3. Optional actions: Throw a rock (Hunter tells what it hits), use character ability.

Hunter Turn (after all Hunted have moved)

1. Move the Hunter piece up to 2 spaces.
2. Play 0-1 action card from hand.
3. Draw 1 action card.

Actions

Hunted Actions

• Move: Up to 2 spaces orthogonally.
• Throw rock: Throw in any cardinal direction; Hunter announces what it hits.
• Find car: When a Hunted player reaches the car token, Hunter announces it.
• Character abilities: Each character has a unique one-time ability.

Hunter Actions (Axe Murderer)

Attack Hunted players by moving adjacent and playing attack cards. When hit, Hunted lose 1 health. At 0 health, eliminated.

Hunter Actions (Mage)

Manipulate the board – rotate sections, move trees, confuse Hunted players with illusions and mental attacks.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Hunted win: If any Hunted player reaches the car and then escapes off the board edge.
• Hunter wins: If all Hunted players are eliminated.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Blackout glasses: Hunted must never remove glasses during play. Navigation is entirely by touch and verbal communication.
• Communication: Hunted players should share information about trees, edges, paths, and the Hunter’s location. Communication is key to survival.
• Hunter role-playing: The Hunter should get into character, taunt players, and create atmosphere, but must play fairly and help confused players with rules/directions.
• Trees as walls: Trees block movement and line of sight. The maze-like board creates tension.
• Noise token: Certain actions create noise that the Hunter can use to locate Hunted players.

Player Reference

Role	Objective
Hunted (2-4 players)	Find car, escape the forest
Hunter (1 player)	Eliminate all Hunted players

Hunted Stats	Values
Health	2 tokens
Movement	Up to 2 spaces
Rocks	1 to start