NOTE: This is a game for 0 - 2 players. The BGG database does not allow a player count of 0.
So, you've been eaten.
Don't worry, this is simply an occupational hazard. In fact, it is fairly common among Deep Space Miners (5th class), and some say that it is almost unavoidable. And, well, it is. Especially since the crystals that you seek happen to be inside giant space beasts. To mine them, you need to, well, be eaten.
But, no reason to panic. We are here to help you deal with the physical and mental challenges of being eaten. This handy simulation/survival guide is standard issue for all recruits and will eventually lead to a productive, if not potentially brief, career in space mining.
Should you achieve your objective and mine enough crystals to meet your quota, it is then cost-effective for the company to activate your jet pack and extricate you from the proverbial belly of the beast. While the beast’s immune response was not enough to prevent its demise, its contribution to human progress and corporate profitability are most definitely appreciated.
In the eventuality that the bacteria present in the beast overwhelm you and you are digested, do not worry. Your non-organic parts will ultimately provide much utility to future space miners. In fact, you may encounter some such pieces of equipment in your expedition, remains of attempts by evidently less-than-qualified recruits.
Finally, it could transpire that you do not collect the necessary crystals by the time you reach the end of the beast's digestive tract. In this case, the so-called "ending #2", you will then exit the beast from the other end than the one you entered. Alive, and yet forever changed. In this case, and after a thorough decontamination and quarantine period, we will have to evaluate your performance versus that of the beast’s efforts to consume you.
In So, You've Been Eaten. the Miner and the Beast face off against one another. The Miner earns points by collecting crystals, and the Beast earns points by developing immune responses and by its bacteria attacking the Miner.
The Miner wins instantly by collecting all eight different crystals, and the Beast wins instantly by digesting the Miner after the attack of four bacteria of the same type. Of course, there's always the possibility that the Miner will simply pass through the Beast's system, in which case the player with the most points wins!
So, You've Been Eaten. can be played as:
A game for 2 players, with a Miner player against a Beast player.
A game for 1 player, with the Miner player against a sleeping Beast.
A game for 1 player, with the Beast player against a robot Miner.
A game for 0 players, with a sleeping Beast against a robot Miner.
—description from the publisher
So You've Been Eaten - Kickstarter Playthrough
- space worm scenario with miners
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Pretty quick
- Does what it's trying to do reasonably well
- Fun
- Not deep enough
- Decisions are not complicated
- Feels like a coin flip due to lack of information
- Difficult to improve or get better at the game
- Monster vs. Miner, Crystal extraction
- So You've Been Cursed
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetrical gameplay — One player plays as a monster, the other as a miner.
- Resource Management — The miner needs to extract eight different crystals.
- Solo Play — The game can be played solo.
- two player — The game is designed for two players.
- Zero Player — Can be played as 'zero player' with the two factions against each other using solo rules.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that there are a lot of games that even if they're not built specifically for two players, the draw to play those games that was there at four players or three players is still there at two players.
- I think that some parts of Aries expedition becomes a lot stronger at two players than it does at three or four players.
- I have my sandbox, you have your sandbox. This can be great at two players.
- Well, let me tell you, nothing is going to create a marital uh battle like someone not being entirely focused on a game of sale.
- I can kind of be doing something else while playing.
- So to me, Ark Nova is ideal for two players.
- Peak Spirit Island is two-player or two spirit if you're playing solo and you have uh and you want to do double-handed
- However, it's too bigrain for me to feel like I'm up for that.
- I just like them at two players. You know, I don't need the extra player count. That's the right amount of opposition that I need for those.
References (from this video)
- Better player usually wins, but not always
- Still enjoyable for less experienced players
- More experienced players likely win more frequently
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric powers — Players control different factions (humans and monsters).
- Resource Management — Players manage resources to achieve victory.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that there are a lot of games that even if they're not built specifically for two players, the draw to play those games that was there at four players or three players is still there at two players.
- I think that some parts of Aries expedition becomes a lot stronger at two players than it does at three or four players.
- I have my sandbox, you have your sandbox. This can be great at two players.
- Well, let me tell you, nothing is going to create a marital uh battle like someone not being entirely focused on a game of sale.
- I can kind of be doing something else while playing.
- So to me, Ark Nova is ideal for two players.
- Peak Spirit Island is two-player or two spirit if you're playing solo and you have uh and you want to do double-handed
- However, it's too bigrain for me to feel like I'm up for that.
- I just like them at two players. You know, I don't need the extra player count. That's the right amount of opposition that I need for those.
References (from this video)
- Interesting asymmetrical gameplay with distinct player roles.
- Thematic integration of the 'eaten' concept into mechanics.
- Multiple ways to win or lose, providing tension.
- Engaging player interaction.
- Prototype components might not reflect final version.
- Harvesting crystals while inside a creature
- The digestive tract of a space beast
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players spend dice or cards to perform specific actions on the board.
- Card Drafting — The beast player acquires immune response cards from a face-up selection.
- Dice Rolling — The miner rolls dice and allocates them to perform actions.
- Engine Building — The miner can upgrade actions, which provides more powerful options or efficiency later in the game.
- Hand Management — Both players manage a hand of cards, with the beast player drawing from a deck and the miner potentially gaining tools.
- Player Elimination (indirect) — The beast player can win by successfully digesting the miner, effectively eliminating them from the game.
- Set Collection — The miner aims to collect all eight different types of crystals to win.
- Variable player powers — The game supports multiple player configurations including two-player, solo (miner vs. beast, beast vs. miner), and zero-player.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Welcome to the Jonagold's Games tutorial for So, You've Been Eaten.
- I will be teaching you the rules to the game as we are playing it, and I will be showing one full game today.
- The miner will be rolling these dice and then allocating them to do a variety of actions as they try to stun the beast and also collect those crystals.
- And the space beast is going to be refilling this digestive row as it empties out, trying to align the various symbols in ways that will help them out.
- The miner is playing a dice game whereas the space beast is playing a card game.
- The miner's turn sequence has three phases to it.
- The beast player's turns have four phases to them.
- This means we have fought so hard to mine these crystals. I don't want to lose those.
- Things are getting pretty hairy for us inside this beast.
- So, that means we are right at the end of the stomach tract.
- Well, our turn is over and we just barely managed to make it out one end of the space beast.
References (from this video)
- clever asymmetric design with multiple play modes
- theme of mined crystals inside a beast provides a quirky hook
- two-player only or variant-heavy rules could limit group size
- Set-collection dice game with asymmetric roles
- Sci-fi deep-space environment inside a beast
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric Player Powers — minor vs beast (or zero-player variants) with different win conditions
- asymmetric player roles — minor vs beast (or zero-player variants) with different win conditions
- dice-driven progression — dice determine how the minor and beast interact as the game progresses
- Set Collection — players collect crystals to score as the minor
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that zoo-oo Cracy has the potential to either be a total mess or an intriguing exercise of diplomacy, negotiation and a bit of backstabber.
- the idea of using scissors as a game component to develop an innovative new mechanism is pretty intriguing
- Wayfinders joins my list because it's modular design makes it seem highly replayable
- you've been eaten can be played as a game for two players with a minor playing against a beast
References (from this video)
- Clear, engaging asymmetric design with evolving strategy through upgrades and tool cards
- Multiple end conditions (collecting eight crystals, bacteria reaching ends, immune cards) keep tension high
- Solo mode and automation concepts are well integrated, offering varied play experiences
- Kickstarter edition variants (premium components, acrylic crystals, wooden pieces) add tangible value
- Prototype presentation means some components and rules are in flux; potential confusion for new players
- Retail edition may differ from prototype concepts (dice tray not included, premium versions differ)
- Strategic depth can raise the entry barrier for casual players
- Luck of dice rolls still heavily influences early turns and momentum
- asymmetric, predator–prey style contest with biotech and space opera flavor
- Deep-space biology; miner navigates the belly of a beast searching for unique crystals while the beast digests
- space-bio sci-fi with comedic and tense bidirectional conflict
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric roles — miner and beast have different boards, actions, and win conditions, creating tension and strategic depth
- Asymmetric Teams — miner and beast have different boards, actions, and win conditions, creating tension and strategic depth
- deck management — the beast manages a stomach deck and immune response cards that push back against the miner
- Dice Placement — the miner rolls three dice each turn and assigns them to actions on a control console to progress toward collecting crystals
- Engine Building: Efficiency — actions can be upgraded using yellow chips, opening new spaces and improving efficiency
- Resource Management — crystals collected by the miner are tracked on a crystal track; eight crystals win the miner
- Resource tracking — crystals collected by the miner are tracked on a crystal track; eight crystals win the miner
- upgrades and tools — actions can be upgraded using yellow chips, opening new spaces and improving efficiency
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "this is an inter galactic battle"
- "two players one player against a robot"
- "the belly of the beast are these crystals"
- "it's on kickstarter the link will be down below"
- "the miner is going to roll all three of these dice"
- "inter galactic battle"
- "the unique crystals they're all unique"
- "this is a space beast bass piece"