Are you familiar with Drop Bears? These notorious creatures in the Australian bush are essentially bloodthirsty koalas that drop from the canopy onto unsuspecting campers. Recently, we had the chance to play Drop Bears, designed by Matthew Aslin and produced by Platypus Industries. This game accommodates 1-4 players and takes about 30-40 minutes to play. Let’s dive into our review!
Overview
In Drop Bears, players take on the roles of campers in the Australian Outback, striving to survive from dusk until dawn while being terrorized by up to five vicious Drop Bears. Interestingly, the game allows for some campers to perish—victory is achieved as long as the number of campers who die does not exceed the number of players.
Game Components
The game components are impressive. The Drop Bear miniatures come in various dynamic poses, with Feryl and Sheryl (a mother and child duo) standing out as favorites. The camper figures are printed images on wooden shapes, which are functional but could be enhanced with miniatures. The illustrations throughout the game evoke a dark, foreboding atmosphere that we truly appreciate.
However, we encountered an issue with the cardboard Eucalyptus tree meant to hold the modular board tiles; it snapped during assembly, rendering it unusable. Fortunately, it is purely cosmetic and does not impact gameplay. We simply stacked the modular tiles beside the board.
Game Setup
Setting up the game is straightforward. Players randomly select a camper and take their corresponding player piece and profile card, complete with plastic tracking clips for wounds and heart rate. The base camp modular board is placed, a Drop Bear is randomly chosen to start in that location, and players roll a D6 die to determine which direction they move in. After establishing the Dusk to Dawn board and trackers, you’re ready to begin!
Gameplay
The primary objective in Drop Bears is survival. Players lose if more campers die than the number of players. If a camper dies or is knocked unconscious, players select a new camper to continue. Actions such as Scout (move to an adjacent tile), Search (find food items), or Endeavor (perform tasks requiring dice rolls) are crucial for survival.
Survival points are earned through actions, and the group must accumulate a set number based on player count. Players take their actions first in each round, followed by the Drop Bears, which target campers based on their profiles. If a camper’s heart rate rises too high, panic ensues, leading to potential injuries while fleeing.
Overall Impressions
We have been eager to try Drop Bears for some time, especially with She-Hawk being Australian. The miniatures are a highlight, and the game quality is commendable. Though we prefer games with more narrative depth, Drop Bears delivers a fun, run-and-escape experience. The incorporation of Australian items adds authenticity, and the finite rounds make it suitable for weeknight play.
Overall, Drop Bears is a game we’ll definitely revisit in the future!
