Quick Specs
Solo / Cooperative (1–2) / Thematic Horror Puzzle
14+
~2.8/5 (Medium)
1 (best), 2 (co-op variant)
~20–60 min (varies by feature + luck)
Scenario-Based Play, Dice Resolution, Hand Management, Action Economy, Push-Your-Luck, Modular Setup (killer + location), Emergent Narrative
Final Girl is a solo horror movie you play at your table—one part tactical puzzle, one part cinematic chaos, and one part “please don’t let the dice do this to me right now.” You’re the last survivor in a slasher flick, sprinting through a location, trying to rescue victims, gear up, and somehow beat a killer who absolutely does not care about your plan.
What it is
This is primarily a solo game (with an optional two-player mode) where each play is a self-contained scenario: a killer, a location, and a bunch of problems that escalate quickly. It’s not about building an engine or optimizing points—it’s about managing risk, surviving bad turns, and creating those movie moments where you grab a random weapon and suddenly become unstoppable… for exactly two minutes.
The setup
Final Girl is modular: you pick a “feature film” (killer + location) and set up the board, decks, and tracks for that scenario. Each feature has its own personality—different killers behave differently, different locations change how movement and events feel—so the same core rules can produce totally different vibes. You’ll also set up victims, fear levels, events, and your starting state (which is usually: underpowered and mildly doomed).
How it plays
Each round, you’ll spend actions to move, search, attack, and rescue victims—basically trying to do everything at once while the game actively removes your free time. Actions are fueled by cards and tested with dice, and the results aren’t just “success/fail”—they swing the mood. You might land a heroic hit… or whiff completely and watch fear spiral. After your turn, the killer acts, events trigger, victims panic, and the situation gets worse in ways that feel very on-theme.
The tension is constant: do you take safe, boring actions to stabilize, or do you push your luck for a big play that could win the game—or get you killed in a hallway like an extra in the first 10 minutes?
Why the pacing works
- Early game: you’re scrambling for tools and information while the killer starts picking off victims
- Midgame: you’re making real tactical choices—when to fight, when to run, what risks are worth it
- Late game: it becomes a final showdown where one good turn can flip the script… and one bad roll can end the movie immediately
Table feel
Final Girl is tense, fast to run once you know it, and surprisingly thinky. It’s not heavy because it’s complicated—it’s heavy because you’re constantly weighing risk under pressure. It can be brutal, but it’s rarely boring. The game is also excellent at producing stories: you’ll remember specific turns like scenes (“I found the weapon, sprinted across the map, saved two victims… and then immediately tripped into disaster”). It’s best as a solo experience where you can enjoy the puzzle and the drama without needing table consensus.
Who it’s for
- Solo players who love thematic games with real tension and real stakes
- Players who enjoy tactical puzzles plus dice-driven chaos (in a good way)
- Best for people who want a “movie in a box” and don’t mind losing sometimes
- You’ll like it if you enjoy learning a system and then exploring lots of scenarios with it
Less ideal for
- Not great for players who hate randomness or want full control every turn
- Avoid if you want a relaxed, cozy solo—this one is stress, but fun stress
- Also note: setup can feel like a bit much at first; once you’ve done it a few times, it smooths out fast
Desert Meeples Beginner Tip + Verdict
New to Final Girl? Your first job is not “kill the killer.” Your first job is get online: find a useful item, reduce the chaos where you can, and rescue a victim or two before the board turns into a disaster documentary. Also, don’t treat dice like a plan—treat them like weather. Have a backup route, a backup action, and a backup hope.
Verdict: Final Girl is a top-tier solo thriller: tense decisions, big cinematic swings, and stories you’ll retell like you actually survived a slasher movie (you probably didn’t, but it was dramatic). If you like thematic puzzles with bite—and you can laugh when the game delivers a perfectly timed “of course that happened”—this one earns its shelf space.
