Introduction

As winter draws near, the Arctic Ground Squirrels prepare for hibernation. As one of those critters, can you store enough food to survive the upcoming season, while also avoiding the many predators that threaten you?

Gameplay Overview

In just 8 weeks, you'll have to gather at least 16 food. Weather conditions and predators will inevitably get in your way; smart planning becomes a necessity when trying to survive winter.

Weeks going by

Each of the 8 weeks is divided into 2 phases: the Action Phase, where you MUST take exactly 2 actions, and the Environment Phase, where you'll resolve events like weather and predator movement.

There are 3 types of action: digging, where you spend stamina to unlock a new chamber of your Burrow card each providing a benefit, foraging, where you gather food from a selected spot on the map card, and resting, where you spend food to restore health and stamina.

The Burrow

Movement on the map will always start from the burrow tile, but most importantly, the tile the burrows in will determine its soil type. Sandy soil is easier to dig, but will make your food stash more prone to spoiling. Rich soil instead is harder to carve, but provides more capacity to save food from weather. Grassy soil allows you to regenerate better in stamina, but it makes it so you won't draw Stat Cards when resting.

Predator Encounters

During movement you may be forced into a predator, or you may purposely want to taunt them, as they may guard a particularly rich foraging spot. Each predator has 2 stats: Danger, which you must meet or exceed to escape, and Strength, which indicated the damage done on a failure. When in an encounter, you play stat cards for their value; if the sum of cards played is enough, you successfully escape, else you take the indicated damage. Each predator also has an effect which may interfere with your stats. After an encounter, whether successful or not, you'll be able to rotate one card in your hand, making it more powerful and unlocking the effect on it.

Shifting Weather

During each Environment Phase, you must draw a Weather card; there are 2 types of cards: Serene Weather, which not only doesn't cause you to lose food, but creates an Abundant foraging spot which yields double food once, and Adverse Conditions, which will make you lose all unprotected food. Protected capacity is gained by digging more food storage chambers, but those are limited.

A Solitaire Experience

Squirrel's Long Rest is a quick game of strategy, with many variables in play. The Map and Burrow cards are doubled sided, with a different configuration on each side. You are sure not to encounter all predator types in a single game, and you can challenge yourself by trying out all soil types.

NOTE: The rulebook is digital only, to preserve valuable space in the tin. It's free to download!

Videos

Overview Video

Playthrough