“The Last of Us: Escape the Dark” will be a collaboration between Themeborne, the studio behind the “Escape the Dark” series, and the original “Last of Us” developers – the first-party video game development studio Naughty Dog. It was further announced that the development of this game will be powered by a Kickstarter Campaign, which will go live on 8 November 2022.
The new “Last of Us” board game will push the boundaries of grimdark, as the game will be entirely monochromatic. The only colors used for the game will be black and white, in the same tone as the “Escape the Dark” series. Some of you are probably wondering how will a game known for its vibrant colors and shadow play look in that art style, and might even express concern. However, given the artwork we can currently see on Naughty Dog’s website, the monochromatic style is in no way a detriment – it’s definitely a benefit.
Themeborne Promise a New and Improved Escape the Dark Engine and More
Themeborne have made an announcement in regards to “The Last of Us: Escape the Dark” game engine and playable characters.
“The Last of Us: Escape the Dark” will be powered by the latest evolution of the “Escape the Dark” game engine, offering 1-to-5 players a new way to experience the world of The Last of Us. Taking the roles of Ellie, Joel, Tess, Bill, Tommy, or Marlene, fans will have the opportunity to weave their own unique story of survival and companionship as they explore an open-world map – attempting to make their way to safety while keeping everybody in the group alive.”
Currently, there are no further elaborations as to what improvement will there be to the “Escape the Dark” game engine. Fortunately for us, we probably won’t have to wait too long for more details with the Kickstarter campaign launch looming on the horizon. Themeborne further shared some details regarding gameplay:
“Gameplay involves players making choices about which route to take and resolving immersive ‘chapter cards’ at familiar locations from the video game, including the Suburbs, Sewers, and University. Survival will depend on using a tactical combination of item cards and custom dice to overcome iconic threats, such as Hunters and Infected.
Each survivor begins the game with a unique ‘Hang-up’ and is on a journey of personal growth to overcome it, unlocking their full potential as a character if they can do so”
Overall, the game will include familiar locations from the original “Last of Us”, something hardcore fans will undoubtedly find pleasing. The new board game aims to capture the harsh reality of the original “Last of Us” post-apocalyptic world, utilized in a brand new style.
A deluxe edition of the game has also been teased, but as of now (due to obvious reasons), no details have been added as to how it will differ from the standard game release. Given the 1-to-5 player statement from Themeborne, a solo mode is all but confirmed – a popular modern board game feature.
We will definitely follow the “The Last of Us: Escape the Dark” Kickstarter campaign with excitement and bring you all the news as they come!