ASHES: Blackout Protocol - post-apocalyptic strategy board game. Perro Loko Games

ASHES: Blackout Protocol Board Game Contents

ASHES: Blackout Protocol is a strategy game set in a world devastated by nuclear warfare. In 1989, the Great Nuclear War reduced cities to rubble and transformed the surface into a hazardous wasteland. Survivors were forced to organize to preserve humanity, build underground shelters, and reactivate emergency evacuation systems.

Two years after the catastrophe, you will lead one of these colonies, rescuing civilians, expanding your shelter network, and contributing to Project Phoenix—an initiative aimed at restoring life to the surface. To succeed, you must manage resources, plan actions, and keep survivors safe while radiation constantly threatens those left exposed.

Designed by Jorge J. Barroso, Jesús Fuentes, and Eduardo Pavón, and illustrated by Jorge Tabanera Redondo, ASHES: Blackout Protocol supports 1 to 4 players, with an estimated playing time of 60 to 120 minutes and a recommended age of 14 and up.

How to Play ASHES: Blackout Protocol

The game unfolds across three rounds. On each turn, you must decide how best to deploy survivors from your base and utilize available resources to grow your colony. Your goal is to secure the highest victory point score by the end of the game.

One primary option is deploying survivors to action spaces on your player board. This allows you to construct shelters, advance Project Phoenix, or rescue civilians. These actions also yield crucial production bonuses, including fuel, data, mission cards, or colony strength.

The other main option is spending fuel to move your evacuation vehicle across the board. Navigating the board lets you transport civilians to shelters, perform bonus actions, and scavenge vital materials needed for Project Phoenix.

Build Shelters for Survivors

Shelters are vital for housing the population and expanding your colony. You will use colony strength to construct new facilities capable of sheltering more civilians, granting immediate rewards and generating recurring income at the end of each round.

As you rescue survivors, you must carefully manage shelter capacity. When a shelter reaches full capacity, you can choose to seal it off for a large lump-sum victory point payout, though you will forfeit the recurring income it generated while active.

Develop Project Phoenix

Project Phoenix represents humanity's best hope for reclaiming a habitable world. To contribute to its progress, you will gather data, craft materials, and unlock powerful colony upgrades.

These decisions allow you to advance the project and expand your strategic options during the game. Resource management is key to balancing immediate survivor needs with long-term investments required to rebuild civilization.

Rescue Civilians Before Radiation Spreads

The surface remains deadly in the aftermath of nuclear war. At the end of every round, radiation afflicts unrescued civilians remaining on the board, lowering your colony's overall happiness level.

Because of this, organizing efficient evacuations and optimizing your vehicle's movements are critical. Rescuing survivors, transporting them to shelters, and searching for new opportunities directly influence both your colony's development and final score.

Missions and Additional Actions

Beyond core actions, ASHES: Blackout Protocol allows you to complete mission cards, craft materials for Project Phoenix, decontaminate survivors, seal completed shelters, and scout for stranded civilians.

These mechanics offer diverse ways to optimize every turn. You will