How to Play Dead of Winter: Survivors, Crisis Cards & Colony Phase
Dead of Winter is a semi-cooperative survival game. The colony has a shared Main Objective, while every player also has a Secret Objective that determines whether that individual actually wins when the game ends.
Each round has a Player Turns phase and Colony phase
Reveal the round’s Crisis, roll action dice for each player’s survivor group, then players take turns. After everyone finishes, resolve colony upkeep, the Crisis and the round track.
Action dice pay for survivor actions
Dice are used for actions such as attacking zombies or survivors, searching locations and activating survivor/card abilities. Other actions—such as moving, playing cards or contributing to the Crisis—use their own costs and restrictions.
Movement can trigger Exposure
When survivors move between the colony and outside locations, resolve the Exposure die unless an effect prevents it. Exposure can cause wounds, frostbite or a Bite result with severe consequences.
Search outside locations for items
At locations such as the school, grocery store or police station, spend an eligible action die to search. Noise can improve search output but increases zombie pressure at that location later.
Contribute to the Crisis secretly
Players may add cards face down to the Crisis contribution. Helpful cards must meet the Crisis type; sabotage can occur if negative/wrong cards are introduced by a betrayer under the rules.
Colony phase: feed, clean waste, resolve Crisis and add zombies
Check food for colony survivors, apply waste penalties when thresholds are reached, reveal Crisis contributions, add zombies to colony/location entrances and reduce the round tracker. Morale loss can immediately end the game.
Game end does not mean everyone wins
The game can end when the Main Objective is completed, the round tracker reaches zero or morale reaches zero. Individual victory depends on the Main Objective outcome and each player’s Secret Objective or betrayal condition.