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Description
Also known as 'Rette Sich Wer Kann' ('Each Man for Himself') and often times referred to as 'The Lifeboat Game,' this pure negotiation game puts a different spin on the typical ocean catastrophe. There's been a boating accident, and a rag-tag group of six lifeboats is trying to make its way to one of several islands just over the horizon. However only one boat will make any forward progress in a given turn, so players try to convince everyone to vote for his particular favorite. To further complicate matters, the sailors can't seem to decide which boat they want to be in, so they're constantly jumping out of boats to swim to another one. As if all that wasn't enough, one of the boats springs a leak each turn. If the boat is at maximum occupancy when the leak occurs, then players vote to decide who to toss to the sharks!
Year Published
1993
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video fiEeGFVZK84
Board Game League general_discussion at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11874 · mention_pk 34789
Click to watch at 0:25
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong cooperative tension and communication cues
- Appeals to players who enjoy mechanism-based cooperation
Cons
- Can be lengthy if discussions stall
Thematic elements
- Resource allocation under crisis, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure.
- Cooperative survival scenario aboard lifeboats that must be allocated efficiently.
- Crisis-driven, with emphasis on collective problem-solving.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- resource allocation — Players allocate scarce resources to ensure survival of the crew.
- Team coordination — Group decisions shape the outcome, rewarding effective communication.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the board game league six
- they're going to earn different numbers of victory points
- our finale Cosmic Encounter
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bJ5RjGXJsrs
boardgames 4k general_discussion at 1:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6388 · mention_pk 18863
Click to watch at 1:59
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun social interaction
- clever voting mechanism
Cons
- can be ruthless depending on players
Thematic elements
- leadership, sacrifice, and rescue decisions
- maritime survival with votes and social dynamics
- social deduction-lite with voting tension
Comparison games
- The Resistance
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- vote/auction for elimination — players vote to push others overboard; balance strategy and compatibility
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- probably the greatest party game of all time
- it's a betting racing game
- this is basically one huge massive rondell of a game
- I hate painted miniatures
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Y8Ay0Dp-Qgk
No Rolls Bard top_10_list at 8:47 sentiment: negative
video_pk 4771 · mention_pk 13956
Click to watch at 8:47
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- tight, social negotiation with clear consequences
- high emotional stakes and dramatic reversals
Cons
- can be brutal and potentially frustrating for players seeking lighter play
- balance depends heavily on player behavior
Thematic elements
- survival, betrayal, prioritizing personal risks
- Small boats during a disaster at sea, with survivors fighting for life.
- grim, ethically fraught
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- color mixing of boats and crew — Players' crews are mixed, affecting alliances and loyalties.
- leak events and forced overboard eliminations — Boat leaks force players to discard or sacrifice crew to continue.
- voting to assign danger and survival outcomes — Players vote to determine who stays or is cast overboard.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- meanest board games ever made
- the unofficial tagline is ruining friendship since 1959
- that's mean
- there are so many ways to hurt people in the estates
- the heart of the game is traveling around fighting off beasties and trying to complete tasks vital to your own personal success
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NZO711ENBA0
Unknown game_review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3417 · mention_pk 10137
Click to watch at 0:00
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong social interaction with dynamic, entertaining backstabbing and banter
- Tense, tense, and highly replayable voting and relocation mechanics
- Feels unique in the space of backstabbing games; open discussion and strategic negotiation are central
- Board shrinking mechanic adds pace and keeps decisions tight
- Great group dynamics and laughs; memorable moments during play
Cons
- Components feel dated or tired in appearance; aesthetics and physical presentation could be improved
- Rulebook is a poor translation/clarification from French; sometimes foggy and unclear
- Not beginner-friendly for timid players or those uncomfortable with confrontation
- A reprint with better components and updated rules would improve the experience
Thematic elements
- Brutal social dynamics, backstabbing, alliance-making, and political maneuvering in a micro-society
- Aboard lifeboats at sea with limited space and rivalries as the crew navigates survival and escape to islands
- Grounded in real-world democratic process and social bargaining with a playful, cutthroat tone
Comparison games
- The Resistance
- Shadows over Camelot
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- board dynamics — The board shrinks as the game progresses, increasing tension and reducing available options, akin to a Last Man Standing feel.
- captains hats (veto cards) — Three captain's hat cards grant veto power. If only one is played, that player vetoes; if multiple, they cancel each other out; if all players play hats, a designated leader decides between options.
- color-based voting restriction — Players cannot vote for their own color, adding a strategic constraint to influence outcomes.
- crew relocation — In the third phase, crew pawns are relocated between boats, introducing uncertainty and shifting power dynamics.
- open information with banter — All crew colors are revealed to everyone except one constraint (you can't vote for your own color); negotiation and social pressure drive decisions.
- phases of voting — In each phase, players vote on which lifeboat receives a leak and which lifeboat moves; majority determines outcomes.
- risk of sinking — If leaks outnumber the crew on a boat, that boat sinks and its crew is eliminated.
- scoring by islands — After boats reach islands, players score points based on which islands and whether their boat is large or small.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Lifeboats is probably one of the best backstabbing board games that you can get.
- It's a fantastic game for shouting and it plays out surprising shouting across the table.
- The mechanics are sound but the aesthetics are tired and need a refresh.
- Definitely needs to be reprinted in 2019 because the mechanics are solid.
- We love this game; it's fantastic; laughs abound; it's a one-of-a-kind experience.
- Eight out of ten; could be a nine or ten with better components and a rulebook.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AeytoF6Drt0
Board Game League playthrough at 1:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3197 · mention_pk 9397
Click to watch at 1:21
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- high player interaction and shifting alliances
- fast-paced, turn-by-turn tension with meaningful choices
- satisfying mix of luck, strategy, and social dynamics
Cons
- endgame can be chaotic and rules-light for new players
- humor and subject matter can feel off-color for some players
- rule clarifications needed for endgame edge cases
Thematic elements
- Survival, resource competition, and social maneuvering
- Open ocean, lifeboats scrambling to islands after a ship sinks
- humorous, rambunctious banter with competitive tension
Comparison games
- Skull
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- board-wide pawn movement — Pawns (crew) shift between boats at set phases, changing voting power and risk of sinking for different boats.
- boat voting — Every round, players vote to determine which lifeboat will spring a leak or move, using color-coded pawns and voting power based on crew size.
- captain's hats — Special captain's hat cards can instantly win a vote or cancel other captain's hats, introducing a high-stakes power-play element.
- leaks and sank — Boats accumulate leaks; if leaks exceed crew, the boat sinks and its pawns score points based on island locations reached.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- lifeboats is ruthless
- Captain's hats cancel
- The Friendship is Dead
- this is a game of backstabbing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dzNM4yXf7b0
Board Game Club playthrough at 0:48 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 2792 · mention_pk 8136
Click to watch at 0:48
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- highly social and interactive
- funly chaotic; strong table dynamics
- short rounds with escalating tension and dramatic reveals
Cons
- can become mean-spirited or spiteful
- tie-breaks and captain's hat usage can feel unfair
- depends on active player engagement; can stall if players disengage
Thematic elements
- survival, negotiation, and betrayal under pressure
- sea survival after a shipwreck; boats leaking and people being thrown overboard
- humorous, tense banter with sharp social play
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- captain's hats — each player has three captain's hats; playing one can instantly win a vote if alone, but multiple hats cancel each other out
- Hidden Information — cards are played face down and revealed to determine the vote outcome
- negotiation/deals — players negotiate deals to influence votes, though deals are not binding
- risk of sinking — a boat sinks if leaks exceed sailors at end of phase, eliminating all on board
- variable voting weights — sailors, mates, and officers have different voting weights affecting outcomes
- Voting — rounds include multiple votes to determine which boat springs a leak, which sailor is thrown overboard, and which boat moves forward
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a very mean game so I just before we start I want to make sure that we're all friends
- the leaks might happen in which case people might have to be thrown overboard
- we're going to start with determining a first player
- Captain's hats... if only one is played during a vote then the player who played it instantly wins
- there's just no more room on this floating door
- the game rides on this
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6