Overview

Outdoor Survival is a wilderness survival simulation game published by Avalon Hill in 1972. Players navigate a hex-map wilderness trying to survive while finding their way to safety. The game simulates real survival challenges including dehydration, starvation, exposure, and getting lost. Multiple scenarios offer different objectives from simple navigation to full survival challenges. The game’s map is notably referenced in the original Dungeons & Dragons rules as a recommended wilderness adventuring map.

Components

• 3 full-color interlocking, folding map boards (hex grid wilderness terrain)
• Direction cards
• Player tokens
• Rules booklet
• Various markers for tracking survival status

Setup

Choose one of the game’s scenarios, which determines starting positions, objectives, and which survival rules are in effect. Place map boards as directed and position player tokens at starting locations.

Turn Structure

On each turn, players:

1. Determine direction (some scenarios use direction cards for forced movement, simulating disorientation)
2. Move through hex terrain, with movement costs varying by terrain type
3. Check for survival needs (water, food, shelter depending on scenario)
4. Resolve encounters with terrain features

Actions

• Move: Travel across the hex map; different terrain types cost different movement points (trails are easiest, mountains hardest)
• Find Water: Locate water sources (streams, lakes) to avoid dehydration
• Find Food: Forage or hunt to avoid starvation
• Take Shelter: Find shelter from exposure in harsh conditions
• Navigate: Attempt to determine correct direction of travel

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory conditions vary by scenario:

Scenario	Objective
Basic	Navigate from start to a designated exit point
Survival	Survive while reaching safety; manage water, food, and shelter
Lost	Find your way using direction cards (simulating being lost)
Full Survival	Combine all survival elements; first to reach safety wins

Players who succumb to dehydration, starvation, or exposure are eliminated.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Dehydration: Players must find water sources regularly or suffer dehydration effects leading to death.
• Starvation: Food must be acquired; effects accumulate over time.
• Exposure: Shelter is needed in certain terrain/weather conditions.
• Direction cards: In “lost” scenarios, movement direction is partially random.
• Terrain types: Open ground, forest, swamp, desert, mountains, trails, streams, and lakes all have different movement costs and survival implications.
• Multiple scenario complexity levels make the game accessible to beginners and challenging for experienced players.

Player Reference

Turn: Determine direction → Move through terrain → Check survival needs

Survival needs: Water, Food, Shelter (scenario dependent)

Terrain costs: Trails (cheapest) → Open → Forest → Swamp → Mountains (most expensive)

Win: Reach safety before succumbing to the wilderness