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Description
It is the start of the bleak, desolate Antarctic winter when a group of NSF researchers manning the claustrophobic, isolated U.S. Outpost 31 comes into contact with a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform. Bent on assimilating Earth's native species, this being infiltrates the facility — creating a perfect imitation of one of the Outpost 31 crew. The staff frantically begin a sweep of the base, desperate to purge this alien infection before escaping to warn McMurdo Station that somewhere, out there in the frigid darkness, something horrible is waiting.
In the hidden identity game The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31, you will relive John Carpenter's sci-fi cult classic in a race to discover who among the team has been infected by this heinous lifeform. Play as one of twelve characters as you lead a series of investigations through the facility using supplies and equipment to clear the building. The tension mounts and paranoia ensues as you question who you can trust in the ultimate race to save humanity!
Year Published
2017
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video TzrwLJ47VWE
Secret Cabal top_10_list at 1:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12400 · mention_pk 36209
Click to watch at 1:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Tightly integrated with The Thing movie aesthetic and lore
- Strong map design that mirrors the facility layout
- Character classes add meaningful asymmetry and planning depth
- Tense, satisfying endgame that hinges on trust and deduction
Cons
- Requires upfront rule explanation for hidden traitor mechanics
- Complex for new players; rules interactions can be dense
- Potential balance issues if traitor is not identified early
Thematic elements
- Hidden traitor, paranoia, survival against an alien shapeshifter
- Antarctic research facility (Outpost 31) under alien threat
- Cooperative framework with hidden traitor dynamics; high tension and mystery
Comparison games
- Last Night on Earth
- Space Cadets
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- class-based roles with specialized abilities — Players are divided into engineering, operations, scientists, etc., driving mission requirements
- endgame helicopter extraction — At the end, the crew tries to escape; missteps can doom the mission if the wrong people are chosen
- hidden traitor / social deduction — A member of the crew may be the alien, creating suspicion and misdirection among players
- mission-driven, room-based challenges — Turns progress through specific tasks in different rooms, forcing player coordination
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The map is the facility, and all the characters in the movie are playable.
- My favorite hidden traitor game there ever was.
- it's a nail-biter to get everyone onto the helicopter.
- it's not the best design game in the world and we say that about all of flying frogs games, oh yeah, but despite that I still love this game.
- it's insanely stressful
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video h283D56mh7c
Midas Suggested Game top_50_list at 11:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10043 · mention_pk 29576
Click to watch at 11:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High thematic immersion
- Excellent social interaction and tension
Cons
- Difficult to win as the imitators
- Complex rules can deter beginners
Thematic elements
- Hidden traitors and survival against monstrous infections
- Arctic base in The Thing universe
- cinematic, cinematic paranoia
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Covert reinforcements — New roles can join, altering team dynamics.
- hidden roles — Traitors can resemble teammates; reinforcements can appear mid-game.
- Mission-based objectives — Complete base missions while preventing infection spread.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sagrada is a really cool dice placement puzzle
- beautiful art and design of the game
- a really cool bounty hunting pick up and deliver game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WmoEStaNMIo
Board Game Coffee unboxing at 1:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9878 · mention_pk 29071
Click to watch at 1:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong The Thing film tie-in and thematic resonance
- Detailed minis and sharp artwork
- Robust components including a quality mat and upgrade options
- Tense hidden-identity gameplay that emphasizes interaction and deduction
Cons
- Hidden traitor mechanics can be complex and intimidating for new players
- See-through tokens may unintentionally reveal information and undermine hidden identities
- Large component count may be overwhelming and lengthy to set up
Thematic elements
- paranoia, alien infection, hidden identity
- Antarctic Outpost 31, inspired by John Carpenter's The Thing; survival and discovery in a remote research station
- trailed identity deduction with tension and betrayal
Comparison games
- Marvel United
- Dead Reckoning
- Nemesis
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Character-based abilities and equipment — Each character has unique cards or abilities; equipment and items affect actions and survival odds.
- Hidden traitor / identity deduction — Players have concealed roles; some may be aliens; trust is opaque and identities may be revealed through play.
- Modular board / large maps — A substantial board mat with modular components for exploration and encounters.
- Resource management with tokens and dice — Tokens and dice drive actions, encounters, and progression.
- Sabotage and repair system — Players use sabotage and repair actions to hinder or restore systems, influencing progression and risk.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i'm assuming this is a hidden traitor game
- i am so excited to play this now
- five out of five
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video T8WCnpG1I3s
3 Minute Board Game game_review at 0:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3716 · mention_pk 10970
Click to watch at 0:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong fit for social deduction fans who want a thematic, cinematic vibe
- Scales well with larger group sizes (best around seven to eight players)
- Fascinating dynamic where being the imitation is particularly rewarding
- Accurate and engaging adaptation of the 1982 film
Cons
- Dice and card randomness can feel cruel or capricious
- Balance may require experience; humans can feel fragile early on
- Needs a sufficiently large group to shine; not ideal for small groups
Thematic elements
- survival horror, paranoia, alien mimicry
- Antarctica, Outpost 31 in the 1980s
- film-adapted social deduction with secret allegiances
Comparison games
- Coup
- The Resistance
- Battlestar Galactica
- Unfathomable
- Dead of Winter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- blame/shadowing tension — Imitation players can influence outcomes while deflecting suspicion onto others.
- blood sample deck & assimilation — Assimilation mechanics via a blood sample deck create hidden information and potential traitor dynamics.
- captain power cycle — Each round a captain is chosen who has unique powers that affect the round’s actions.
- Dice-based resolution — Conflict resolution uses six-sided dice to determine success in overcoming threats.
- hidden roles / social deduction — Humans vs. Imitations with secret identities and suspicion driving decisions.
- room/board sector management — Board is divided into sectors/rooms with power, fires, and equipment markers affecting play.
- secret mission cards — Missions require specific team composition and hidden objectives; sabotage can complicate progress.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the thing is a fascinating social deduction game because it straddles the time and complexity bridge between party games like coup and longer games like Battle Star Galactica and dead of winter
- the best thing about this game is being an imitation, dropping this card into an important Challenge, and then blaming everyone else
- turns move quickly and there is always a heap of Suspicion floating around, especially when it's your turn to be Captain
- it's also a wonderfully accurate adaptation of the 1982 film which is one of my absolute faves
- for a shorter game like this check out either coup or the resistance, and for something heavier try Battlestar Galactica or its remake unfathomable
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video c86VSHUiyfU
Board Game Club playthrough at 1:06 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 1369 · mention_pk 3997
Click to watch at 1:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Tense social deduction with meaningful player roles
- Thematic flavor aligned to The Thing, with immersive atmosphere
- Multiple strategic paths via mission design and equipment choices
- Good replay potential due to variable powers and sabotage dynamics
Cons
- Complex rule set and significant learning curve
- Longer play sessions; can be punishing with unlucky sabotage outcomes
- Some decisions can feel opaque in large groups
Thematic elements
- trust, betrayal, survival under existential threat
- Arctic research outpost, inspired by The Thing premise
- cooperative with hidden traitor mechanics and asymmetric powers
Comparison games
- Big Trouble in Little China
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- assimilations and infection phases — End-of-sector phases can introduce new imitations, altering trust dynamics.
- blood tests and flamethrower — Blood tests reveal loyalties publicly or privately; flamethrower adds testing power and combat options.
- dice pool and resource management — Supply cards grant dice and items; players must manage dice to complete missions.
- endgame helicopter escape — Final captain selects crew for escape; victory hinges on human vs imitation outcomes.
- equipment and restraint tools — Rope, flamethrowers, and other items influence movement, testing, and combat outcomes.
- mission planning and crew selection — The lead selects crew for missions, with potential imitation sabotage.
- social deduction — Hidden imitations vs humans drive the core tension and decisions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Thing infection Outpost 31 is a game in which most of us will be humans trying to investigate The Outpost, gather the supplies we need and defeat things
- it's a complex game we'll go through the rules as they come up in the video
- I know that I'm human
- this is the worst moment in the whole thing
- I could be a thing, or I could be human; the tension is palpable
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5