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Game Info
Year
2014
Players
2-7
Age
14+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Imagine that you are one of the crew in your favorite science fiction TV show. Now imagine that in the last 10 minutes of the show things have gone so badly that the captain is dead and you and the surviving members of your crew have to pull together and save the day yourselves!
The Captain Is Dead is a co-op game for 2 to 7 players. All you have to do is get the ship's engines (aka "Jump Core") back online and you win, but because there is a hostile alien ship trying to destroy you, that is easier said than done.
You have an impressive star ship full of useful systems that will help you fend off the aliens, and get the Jump Core back online. Each system gives you an advantage while it remains online. The assault from the hostile alien ship tends to keep knocking those systems offline however. So you need to balance your time between keeping the ships system's online, fending off the alien threat, and completing your objective.
Each member of your crew has special abilities and skills. You need to work as a group to maximize the potential of each role. If someone tries to be a hero, you'll all die.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 11
This page: 11
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–11 of 11
Video dGeRvZZYb0I
Board to Death TV - Board Game Reviews Review at 0:22 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 130559 · mention_pk 371948
Click to watch at 0:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- The visual and art style is loved.
- Components are really slick.
- The excitement is certainly there, which really lends itself to the theme.
- There's a lot of tactical choices to be made.
- Replay value is just right.
Cons
- Suffers massively from alpha gamer syndrome.
- Certain tactical choices are more strategic than others.
- Once you played and know the alerts, you kind of expect what's going to happen.
- Character imbalance; no reason not taking the engineer.
- Will not have a massive appeal for everyone.
Thematic elements
- Crew members must work together to fix the warp drive and escape an alien invasion after the captain's death.
- spaceship
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players have action points to spend on their turn for various actions.
- Card Drafting — Players draw and choose cards for their kill deck.
- cooperative play — Players work together as crew members to achieve a common goal.
- Set Collection — Players need to gather specific skills and items to perform actions.
- Variable player powers — Each player takes on the role of a crew member with unique abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The captain is dead scores in OK score of a 6 out of 10
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Xa939AYVLro
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116766 · mention_pk 329643
Click to watch at 0:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique and solid game with a unique theme.
- Cohesive and user-friendly design with clear color-coding.
- Engaging cooperative gameplay that encourages communication.
- Mitigatable luck through systems like overrides.
- Satisfying progression of difficulty through alert levels.
- Variety of unique player roles and abilities.
- Not overly long playtime (around an hour and a half).
- Always something to do for players.
Cons
- Some cards can be unbalanced and game-breaking.
- Draw luck can significantly impact the game's difficulty, similar to Pandemic.
- Certain ship sections, like the science lab, are rarely used.
- Difficulty can be extremely high on higher settings, potentially leading to frustration.
- Having certain crucial roles can be difficult if they are not dealt.
Thematic elements
- surviving a spaceship crisis after the captain's death
- science fiction
Comparison games
- Pandemic
- Smash Up
- Dark Souls
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players have a limited number of actions per turn to perform various tasks on the ship.
- cooperative play — Players work together to achieve a common goal, emphasizing teamwork and communication.
- Hand Management — Players manage a hand of skill cards that are crucial for performing actions and overcoming challenges.
- Push Your Luck — Players may need to take risks or decide how to best utilize limited resources in the face of overwhelming odds.
- Set Collection — Collecting specific skill cards or completing certain objectives is key to progressing and winning.
- threat management — Players must deal with escalating threats (alerts) that appear on the board and require immediate attention.
- Variable player powers — Each player controls a character with unique abilities that influence their effectiveness in different situations.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this was created on a website called game crafter which is just a website where you can make can make games relatively cheap and it did such a good job with it that a eg actually pictures up a G's company that made smash up
- I think it's a unique artistic viewpoint but like the game doesn't look like spectacular otherwise
- it's a pandemic rule you know like the way pandemic can be either really easy or really hard to pay on just how the cards happen to come out on your turn
- I definitely get the pandemic vibe from it because for actions you're using locations and you're utilizing cards to to do actions
- what's really great is you have ways to stop them like the override system it's just fantastic
- any cooperative game that allows actual co-op raishin and that intense stress level but also not feeling like well there's no [__] point it's great in my book
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _JjJSYM4V8s
Board Games UnLocked Playthrough at 0:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116767 · mention_pk 329644
Click to watch at 0:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging theme of survival in space.
- Cooperative gameplay encourages teamwork.
- Variety of roles and abilities.
- Thematic integration of mechanics.
Cons
- Can be challenging to manage all systems and threats.
- Certain anomaly cards can feel overly punishing or restrictive in a two-player game.
- Frustration with players not listening or understanding rules.
Thematic elements
- Surviving a catastrophic event after the captain's death.
- A spaceship under attack by aliens.
- Directly driven by game events and player actions.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players have a set number of actions per turn to perform various tasks.
- Card Play — Players use skill cards and tool cards to perform actions or gain advantages.
- cooperative play — Players work together to achieve a common goal.
- Event Deck/Anomalies — The game introduces various negative events or anomalies that players must overcome.
- Role-playing — Players take on specific roles (Tactical Officer, Admiral, Janitor) with unique abilities.
- System Repair — Players must repair damaged ship systems to progress or avoid losing.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "viewer discretion is advised"
- "The captain is dead and that's that."
- "It's just like this is it. We were attacked by aliens and in the system and the captain is dead and that's that."
- "I am the janitor. When repairing or reinstalling systems, you may spend actions as well. School cards. And when I start my turning with a tool, I get an extra action."
- "It's like, at this point, it's just insulting. Like, 'Gamer, not listen when people talk to you!'"
- "We're just trying to avoid this huge hit that's 20% hit."
- "We did it. And the janitor seems to do... I mean, janitor was a bit... we'll do it without the other people."
- "The captain is dead everyone."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wB1upRwpRyA
Board Games UnLocked Playthrough at 0:30 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 116014 · mention_pk 328562
Click to watch at 0:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- The cooperative nature and need for teamwork are highlighted.
- The thematic elements of fighting bugs and recovering artifacts are present.
- The game offers a challenge that requires strategic planning.
Cons
- The setup is described as tedious and the design is called 'poor.'
- Managing the overwhelming number of bugs is a constant struggle.
- The game can feel slow or fiddly at times.
- Misinterpreting rules (like external scanners being offline) can add to the difficulty.
- The game can feel like a 'fiddly ass' game with 'tedious setup.'
Thematic elements
- Recovering alien artifacts to unlock alien technology, while fending off bugs
- deep within the alien empire
- The game's narrative is conveyed through an introduction that sets the scene and explains the ongoing saga.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players use a set number of actions per turn to perform various tasks, indicated by phrases like 'You have one action left,' 'two actions,' and 'that was one action.'
- Area Movement — Players move their pieces around a board representing locations and paths to achieve objectives.
- Card Drafting — Players draw cards from a deck ('skill deck') to gain abilities or resources, indicated by phrases like 'draw some skills' and 'gain two skills from the skill deck.'
- cooperative play — The players are working together towards a common goal, with constant discussion about helping each other and coordinated actions to overcome the challenges.
- Device/Tower Defense — Players deploy and utilize 'devices' like a railgun and shock field to defend against the advancing bugs.
- Set Collection — Players collect specific 'skills' or 'cards' to use for actions or abilities, such as 'draw skills,' 'pick two up,' and 'take this tactical.'
- Threat Escalation — The game features an increasing threat represented by bugs that advance and appear in nests, with mechanics like 'Add four bugs to nest D,' and 'advance the bugs.'
- Tile Laying/Revealing — The game board is revealed as players explore, with tiles being 'revealed' and 'unrevealed.'
- Variable player powers — Each player has a unique role with specific abilities, such as the Admiral drawing two skills and discarding one, the weapons officer having built-in engineering and tactical, and the counselor looking at unrevealed tiles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Viewer discretion is advised.
- I hate ASMR. I hate it. Hate it. In all forms.
- The only good bug is a dead bug.
- We're going to lose.
- This is such a tedious setup. It's just like like just It's just poor design.
- We legitimately won.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wcINh8LZFtw
Board Games UnLocked Review at 3:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116013 · mention_pk 328560
Click to watch at 3:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Had the original magic and felt well-balanced.
- A good time that the reviewer would always replay.
Cons
- At the whim of the deck, very much.
Thematic elements
- sci-fi survival
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adapting and Recovering — The core of the first game involved adapting and recovering from challenges.
- Jump Drive Repair — Players had to repair the jump drive to be able to teleport.
- Shields — Required players to keep bringing backup to maintain shields, otherwise they would go down.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a tower defense like that's really what it is like you though the bugs are gonna be coming at you in in certain waves and you have to put up your towers to defend defend the home base
- I absolutely despise how these tunnels are actually laid out now the fact that you can't lay them out but it's like okay let me just Oh God oh wait no oh no it's ruined
- the first one had the magic it definitely felt like all the cards reading
- with the second one it was just like a mob fest yeah character started feeling a little less balanced yeah and it was just kind of chaotic
- I hate the tile that says destroy the device mmm that's just having that exist is really really stupid because you put a lot of effort into having it and you can't get them back once they're destroyed
- it's like if you're buying this one you're buying the captain is dead again like they are all radically different
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _U5JnRJ04_4
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 13:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87072 · mention_pk 227001
Click to watch at 13:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- One of the favorite firefighting co-ops.
- Engaging and tight gameplay.
- Good tribute to science fiction.
- Uses specialized crew abilities.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Survival, disaster management
- Sci-Fi ship
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — firefighting co-ops a lot that's Cooperative games where as a group you're dealing with a series of disasters that keep popping up
- Crew specialization — using each of the members of the crew and their specialized abilities
- Disaster Management — dealing with a series of disasters that keep popping up
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video arincHwdQ9U
Review at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65772 · mention_pk 159544
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Captures the final dramatic moments of a sci-fi show.
- Huge homage to Star Trek and sci-fi in general.
- Reasonably easy to learn co-op game.
- Difficulty can be adjusted quite easily.
- Plunges you straight into the action with tension from the outset.
- Large number of characters and combinations.
- Comes in a small, portable box.
- The 'grow the beard' battle-plan card is a fun tribute.
Cons
- Not a great game to play with someone who tells everyone else what to do on their turn.
Thematic elements
- Escaping a destroyed ship after an alien attack
- A spaceship under attack
Comparison games
- Ghost Stories
- Space Cadets
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — On your turn you will normally have four actions.
- card management — Many of the actions you take require the use of cards.
- cooperative play — You are all one crew in this terrible mess together.
- Damage/Destruction — When some systems are damaged there are serious consequences.
- Hand Management — If you have three command cards, you can negate that alert by discarding them.
- Push Your Luck — Finally, once you have finished your action, you draw another alert and damage the ship on your turn.
- Role selection — Everyone selects a role at the start of the game.
- Set Collection — Repairing the jump core requires discarding five engineering cards.
- Variable player powers — Aza's characters, the chief engineer, have a discount of two Engineering cards to take this action and it also only costs them one time.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The captain is dead captures the final dramatic moments of a sci-fi show and it's a huge homage to Star Trek and sci-fi in general.
- The single best thing about this game is the grow the beard battle-plan card because I laugh every time it comes up and it's such a fun tribute to Star Trek.
- Also it's not a great game to play with someone who tells everyone else what to do on their turn.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kiwFc1E0rxI
Let's Table It Top List at 3:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61803 · mention_pk 154453
Click to watch at 3:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong co-op puzzle feel
- Asymmetric powers increase replayability
- Fits sci‑fi fans well
Cons
- Can be challenging to optimize, especially at higher player counts
Thematic elements
- Cooperative sci‑fi crisis management with asymmetric powers
- Star Trek–style starship in danger with no captain
- Tense, cooperative puzzle with character-specific abilities
Comparison games
- Deep Sea Adventures
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play with asymmetric roles — Players assume different roles with unique powers to work together against a shared crisis.
- Role-based action economy — Each player’s role provides distinct actions and powers, influencing team strategy.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Camel Up is a super zany lucky camel racing game
- This is your game. It is 100% trying to get a ship out of danger
- Creature Comforts. It is the coziest of the strategy I think for me
- one of my absolute favorites, The Crew
- And this is another one that is a cozy favorite of mine
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UIySi3BySqU
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 23:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8691 · mention_pk 25629
Click to watch at 23:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- another pandemic killer
- easy to teach but real depth
- very hard on higher difficulties
- earnest Star Trek love letter
- not hokey or derivative
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- space crisis management
- starship
- star_trek_homage
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — cooperative game
- mid-complexity — mid-complexity game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is my list the video says the top 100 board games of all time but it really is just my top 100 board games of all time
- three minute board games is an independent channel we dont take money from publishers and we do not do any form of paid content
- Mosaic has the ambitious goal of being a civilization game that can be played in two to three hours and it very much succeeds at this goal
- a game that does not need to be played with a traitor because the inherent selfish goals in this game created enough internal conflict
- I love space racing games and space corp is the game that is most racy as far as space racers go
- the term I use instead of gateway game is foundation game
- Sentinels could easily be a forever game the kind of game you just play over and over and over and over again endlessly
- Modern Art is a simple and brilliant and beautiful game and easily the best pure auction game Ive ever played
- Black Orchestra models some very clever things about how conspiracy is run
- when I asked the question hey what game should I play with my non-gamer friend who's interested in gaming but hasn't done much gaming I almost always answer Sentient Golem Edition
- Arkham Horror is the game that really made board gaming my number one hobby
- there are a few things more fun and rewarding in board gaming than organizing a fight in the arena
- Twilight Struggle is one of the best head-to-head games out there
- Santorini is the definition of an elegant design
- Arkham Horror the card game absolutely should be for you it's a hundred percent for me and it is my number one game of 2023
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FeTAVPnP-_0
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 31:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4807 · mention_pk 14125
Click to watch at 31:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Quick setup time
- Fast-paced gameplay
- Lots of wacky character combinations
- Many decisions in short time
- Great for sci-fi fans
Cons
- Must play multi-handed
Thematic elements
- Fix ship and escape
- Space ship
- Fast-paced action
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character Combinations — Variable character powers create different plays
- Firefighting Co-op — Co-op game with time pressure
- Multi-handed Solo — Play multiple characters at once
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I've played about 300 solo games so this represents the top of all the solo games I've played
- These are entirely my opinions based on my personal play experience
- I think this is one of the cleverest solo modes on the market
- When you win a game of Robinson Crusoe there are very few things in solo board gaming more satisfying
- The closest experience in board gaming to being the captain on a bridge in a sci-fi movie where everything is going to shit
- I'm probably a solo board gaming masochist
- I just love Thunderbirds as a solo game
- It feels like Legendary Encounters was built for the Alien theme and was built as an upgrade to the original Legendary system
- Probably the best AI opponent in all of board gaming
- Few games have that genuine sense of exploration
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wQpHExhJ45k
3 Minute Board Games Review at 9:29 sentiment: other
video_pk 3624 · mention_pk 10748
Click to watch at 9:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Favorite looking, sounding, and feeling game
Pros
- Fun co-op mechanics
- Excellent art direction
- Cool animations and sound effects
- Love letter to sci-fi genre
- Love letter to Star Trek
- Earnest and lovely tone
- Nods and winks to source material
- Zany and challenging
- Looks different from other games
- Silly and irreverent
Cons
- Recently released - limited character availability
- Some characters not yet available
Thematic elements
- Star Trek inspired
- Space ship crisis
- Sci-fi adventure
- Comedic tone
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- These are 15 new titles, well new to me at least
- This list is presented in order from my least favorite to most favorite of these games
- Functional is better than good looking when it comes to a board game adaption
- The captain's dead is one of my all-time favorite games
- Spirit island is my favorite game of all time so of course it's going to end up at the top of this list
- If you want a good filler game that's just dice chucking and logic puzzles and it's a little bit silly, definitely check out dicey dungeons
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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