Final Girl: Starter Set
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The FroGames review
You've been left alone. The killer is somewhere among these rooms. You have few actions, a handful of cards, and only one certainty: either you stop them, or the night ends badly.
ABOUT THE GAME
The slasher movie trope becomes a solo board game
Evan Derrick and A. J. Porfirio (authors of Hostage Negotiator) have built a system that transforms classic horror movies into tense, asymmetric solo matches. Each scenario recreates an iconic location and a unique killer, each with their own Terror deck that dictates how they move, how they attack, and when they become unstoppable. The illustrations by Tyler Johnson and Roland MacDonald capture the aesthetic of 80s B-movies without ever veering into parody.
You play as the Final Girl: the only one who can stop the massacre. You manage a hand of limited action cards, move between locations on the board, save victims, collect items, and look for the right moment to confront the killer. Every turn is a calculation: spend too much now and you’ll be defenseless when they arrive. Wait too long and the victims die. The killer plays alone, drawing cards from their custom deck that determine movement, attacks, and special abilities. This Starter Set includes the Core Box (game engine) and the "The Happy Trails Horror" Feature Film, the cursed campground. It’s enough to play immediately, and it is compatible with all other scenarios in the line.
What they say abroad
"Final Girl captures the tension of horror movies better than any solo game I've played"
Final Girl captures the tension of horror movies better than any solo game I've played
— The Dice Tower
A game lasts half an hour but you'll remember it for weeks. Every killer has a precise personality, every scenario changes the rules of survival. It's not a puzzle to solve: it's a night gone wrong in ever-changing ways.
— FroGames
Final Girl: Starter Set
Designed ONLY for solo play. The killer is managed by a dedicated Terror deck that draws and resolves their actions autonomously, without the need for complex automas. The experience is cinematic and complete: nothing is missing compared to a hypothetical multiplayer, because multiplayer doesn't exist.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rulebooks, international reviews, and gameplay sessionsElements in play
What keeps you alive (and what kills you)
Your Final Girl
Each character has unique abilities and a different starting deck. They aren't reskins: they change how you approach the scenario. One is agile, another is combative, a third survives with cunning.
The Killer and their Terror Deck
Every killer has a custom deck that dictates how they move, who they attack, and when they become unstoppable. You draw for them, read the card, and execute. There's no app: the killer "plays" by themselves through their deck.
Location Board
The board represents the map of the scenario (in the case of Happy Trails Horror: a campground). You move between rooms, save victims, and collect items. Each location has slots for victims and items: when they are empty, you're in trouble.
The Finale Timer
The Finale deck advances every turn. When it runs out, the killer enters berserk mode and becomes almost unbeatable. You must finish the game BEFORE that moment arrives, or prepare for a desperate confrontation.
🎲How to playThe rules in four moves▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each turn is a back-and-forth: you act, then the killer responds. Time is running out.
Play up to 3 cards from your hand. Each card is an action: move, save a victim, attack the killer, pick up an item, use a special ability. Cards cost "time" (icons on the card): if you spend too much, the turn ends early.
Draw 1 card from the killer's Terror Deck. The card says what they do NOW: move, attack, activate a special ability, spawn an obstacle. Resolve everything written on it. Some cards have "if you are in the same location" effects: if you are, you suffer the consequences.
Discard 1 card from the Finale deck (the game timer). When the Finale deck runs out, the killer enters Dark Power: they become stronger, faster, and almost unbeatable. This advances EVERY turn: time never stops.
Draw cards until you have 5 in hand (or your Final Girl's maximum). Check for victory (killer dead + victims saved) and defeat (Final Girl dead or too many victims lost) conditions. If neither has occurred, start a new turn.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Arrival at the camp
Read the scenario setup card. Place victims on the locations, shuffle the killer's Terror Deck, prepare your starting hand. The board is quiet, for now. Choose where to start. The opening credits music is about to end.
First actions, first victims
Play your cards: move, save a victim, pick up an improvised weapon. Then draw for the killer. The Terror card says they move to your location and attack. You choose: take damage yourself or sacrifice a victim you just saved. The dilemma has already begun.
The race against time
The Finale deck runs out turn after turn. You have to decide: keep saving victims (you need them to win) or focus on the killer? Every wasted turn brings you closer to a desperate finale. The board empties, good cards run out, and the killer draws increasingly lethal abilities.
The confrontation
You decide it's time. You've gathered enough items, you've prepared a combo of cards. You attack the killer with everything you have. It works. Or it doesn't. They counterattack by drawing from the Terror Deck: the card is brutal, you lose half your health. Now, either you finish it, or you die next round.
Finale (one of many possible)
You killed the killer with the last useful card. Or you died and are reading the defeat card. Or the Finale deck ran out and the killer entered Dark Power: now they are unstoppable and you just have to survive long enough to escape. Three different finales, three different stories. Look back at the cards you played: this game will not be the same as the next.
🐸Good to knowThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know
Three things to know before buying
You need the Core Box + at least one Feature Film
This Starter Set includes both (game engine + "Happy Trails Horror" scenario), so you can play right away. But know that the Final Girl line works like this: the Core Box is the system, the Feature Films are the scenarios (killer + location). If you want more scenarios later, you'll need to buy other Feature Films separately. They aren't expansions: they're different movies.
Each killer has special rules to learn
The base engine is simple (you'll learn it in 15 minutes), but every killer adds 3-4 unique rules that change the game. Your first game with a new killer will be slower because you'll need to consult the reference sheet. After 2-3 games, you'll know them by heart, but expect an initial learning curve whenever you change scenarios.
Luck exists and is ruthless
You draw cards for yourself and the killer. Sometimes the Terror Deck punishes you when you're already down, and there's nothing you can do: you die and start over. It's part of the horror genre (Final Girls don't always survive), but if you hate losing to pure luck, know that it will happen. Skill lies in minimizing risks, not eliminating them.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the finale rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
There are three possible finales: victory, defeat, desperate escape. It depends on you and the Terror Deck.
Victory
- Kill the killer by reducing their health to 0 with your attack cards
- Save the minimum number of victims required by the scenario (varies for each Feature Film)
- Do all this BEFORE the Finale deck runs out and the killer enters Dark Power
Defeat
- Your Final Girl dies (health reduced to 0 by the killer or Terror effects)
- Too many victims die: if you drop below the minimum required threshold, you lose even if you kill the killer later
- The killer enters Dark Power (Finale deck exhausted) and you only manage to escape: you survive but you didn't win
Final Girl doesn't forgive mistakes, but every game is a story to remember. Even the ones you lose badly.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before the cart▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQs about Final Girl: Starter Set
Do I need the Core Box to play or is a Feature Film enough?
You need BOTH. The Core Box contains the game engine (base action cards, rules, shared components). Feature Films contain specific killers and locations. This Starter Set includes both (Core Box + "Happy Trails Horror"), so it's everything you need to start. If you want more scenarios later, you buy other Feature Films: they all work with the Core Box you already have.
How many different games can I play with this Starter Set?
Many. You have 5 different Final Girls (each with unique abilities and decks) and 1 killer with 1 location. That already gives you 5 combinations. Furthermore, every game varies based on the cards drawn, movement choices, and the order of the victims. After 10-15 games, you might want to expand with other Feature Films, but the single scenario won't be exhausted in 2 evenings.
Is it hard to learn? How long is the first game?
Basic rules in 15-20 minutes. The first actual game takes 60-75 minutes because you'll frequently consult the manual and the killer reference sheet. From the second game on, you'll drop to 30-45 minutes. It's not a complex game, but it has exceptions and timing to understand: expect a light initial learning curve.
What mechanics does Final Girl use?
Hand management, tactical point-to-point movement on a map, asymmetric event cards (the killer's Terror Deck plays against you), and limited resource management (health, victims, time). It has similarities to Hostage Negotiator (same author), but adds a board and spatial movement.
Is it available in Italian?
No. This Starter Set is in English. The cards have text (actions, abilities, Terror effects), so you need a sufficient knowledge of English to read the rules and cards during the game. There are currently no official Italian editions.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they have done.
Final Girl: Starter Set is a thematic horror solitaire board game for 1 player, ages 14+, duration 20-60 minutes. Designed by Evan Derrick and A. J. Porfirio, published by Van Ryder Games, it puts the player in the shoes of a Final Girl who must survive an iconic killer. The modular system combines a Core Box (game engine) with Feature Films (killer/location scenarios): this Starter Set includes both, with "The Happy Trails Horror" scenario set in a cursed campsite. Each game is an asymmetric duel managed by card decks: the Final Girl plays tactical actions, the killer responds by drawing from their Terror Deck. Cinematic tension, high replayability, accessible but ruthless rules. Available on FroGames.it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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