I love board games. If there are dice or cards and a good bit of strategy involved, I’m all for it. For some odd reason, this format doesn’t seem to translate as well onto our screens, though. Now I’m not saying that virtual board games don’t exist, of course; they do and in good numbers; but in a world where you can play anyone, anywhere, whenever you feel like it, you’d think there would be a lot more. With all this being said, I was pleased to see The Captain is Dead making its arrival into a digital format. We’ll be getting it for our computer platforms and for those of you who like to play on the go, on mobile devices, too.
Coming from the folk over at Thunderbox Entertainment, The Captain is Dead is a strategy title that has cardboard roots. The board game has been given a virtual makeover, blending low-poly graphics with what can only be described as a retro-futuristic, synth-wave opera. That term alone just sounds cool.
In The Captain is Dead, the captain is dead, that bit is fairly straightforward. This, however, is only the root of your problems. Stranded in the icy depths of space, you will need to take control of your wayward crew as they repair the ship and stand to repel boarders.
In The Captain is Dead, you’ve got quite an unenviable job on your hands. Thankfully, it’s not all bad news. Your crew members have their own very specific skill sets which, if harnessed properly, will help you prevail. From the fleet-footed Ensign and expendable Crewmen all the way up to the battle-hardened Admiral. You’ll need to use all of these units correctly if you’re going to stand a chance at coming out with your hide.
Aside from the crew, you can expect friendly hints and tips from the ship’s onboard AI computer. So you’ve got all the help you need, right? Now all you need to do is upgrade your ship with science, destroy alien frigates, heal the crew and stop invaders from…well, invading. You need to do all of this in a floating tin can with a dead commanding officer, see? Easy!
Last, but absolutely not least, we need to say a little something about the voice cast in The Captain is Dead. This crew of talented voice people is being led by Kevin Brighting, who you might know from The Stanley Parable, Void Bastards, and Portal. He’s vocalizing alongside Elias Toufexis of Star Trek Discovery and Deus Ex fame. With names like these in the ranks, it’s safe to say you aren’t going to be disappointed.
If you fancy having a go at saving your crew and not expiring in the process, The Captain is Dead is now available for Steam, Google Play, iOS, and Android. As this is a game of the former board variety, there is a very good chance I’ll be joining you on the bridge, so keep your eyes peeled for more on this in the future.
