About Entombed, from BoardGameGeek:
The Story
An unknown Pharaoh, having built a pyramid ordered a ritual to celebrate its creation.
Unbeknownst to him, one of his many conspirators desecrated the ritual, angering the gods, who cursed the pyramid.
After escaping the 4 vengeful Inhabitants (his former servants), the Pharaoh ordered the immediate burial of the pyramid, entombing the 4 Inhabitants.
It's now the 1920's and at the height of Tutmania; Professor Abiana Lawanda has discovered the pyramid. Excited and unaware, she has failed to notice other interested parties have been observing her movements.
Seeing her entering the pyramid, they follow her in, oblivious that the path behind them has closed. They are all Entombed in the center of the pyramid. They must now survive until the pyramid exits open and be the first to escape.
"Who Do I play As?"
You control one of the 4 Explorers (or their corresponding Lost Soul) AND and Inhabitant. Use both characters to gain a strategical advantage or to slowly trap a fellow Explorer. Be warned, the Pyramid is only wide enough for 1 person and you cannot pass through anyone.
How To Play
Each round is split into 4 phases, Explorers, Lost Souls, Inhabitants, and next round preparation.
Explorers - Each alive Explorer may move up to 3 squares.
Lost Souls - (Explorers who have met an unfortunate end) - Reveal a Lost Soul Movement card. Move that number of spaces.
Inhabitants - Reveal a Who and a Where card. The Who card tells you which Inhabitants are moving and in what order. The where indicates the number of spaces.
Prep - If appropriate move the turn tracker cube down one square and pass the 1st turn card clockwise. In a 3 player game move the spare inhabitant clockwise.
The Lost Souls and Humanity
If an Inhabitant (or Lost Soul) lands on the same square as an Explorer they become a Lost Soul. If a Lost Soul lands on the same square as an Explorer, they steal that Explorers humanity, thus rebecoming an Explorer.
The Walls Move
Landing on a Wall Movement Space allows you to rotate up to 2 pieces of wall 90 degrees, so long as an area isn't fully blocked off (i.e. inaccessible), or both of it's point of origin move (cant move to the space opposite).
What Makes Entombed Unique
- Entombed allows you to play as both an Explorer / Lost Soul and an Inhabitant, rather than one or the other, allowing for greater depth of strategical play.
- Wall Movement Tiles constantly change the layout during the game giving players a tactical dilemma; defend yourself (or others); attack to eliminate the competition; or a combination of both.
- Inhabitants and Lost Souls are immortal, therefore it's a survival experience as you are constantly being chased. Having only 1 piece of health also places greater emphasis on survival.
- In survival games you tend to be eliminated once you die. In Entombed, Lost Souls can regain their humanity by stealing an Explorers soul. The game is not over until either no Explorers remain or one Explorer has escaped.
The 1 Player Experience
Entombed can also be played as a 1 player game. There are several modes available which can make Entombed feel like more of a puzzle game, especially if you are playing the mode where you have to keep all 4 Explorers alive.
The Customisable Game
Entombed is extremely customisable. Although 15 turns are recommended before the exits open, the board allows for anything up to 30 turns, allowing game lengths to be shortened or extended depending on how you feel.
Also, as the walls are moveable, the start layout is completely at your discretion. A total of 9 maps have been included within the rulebook to get you started.
The Wall Movements, changeable game length and adaptable starting layout keeps Entombed feeling fresh.
-description from the designer
