Next year, Survivor hits its 25th anniversary. And with 47 seasons under its belt and counting, merchandising opportunities have provided a slew of games about the world’s greatest games. Longtime fans of the CBS reality series might remember the board games, DVD games, computer games, and even a memorable Wii version with some “unique” interpretations of some of the show’s most famous faces.
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Survivor games have entered, fittingly, a new era with the release of “Survivor The Tribe Has Spoken,” the first-ever official card game for the veteran reality show (though it should be noted card games were also released early in the show’s run). Coming to Amazon, Target, and Walmart.com on January 12, it’s the culmination of a two-year collaborative effort between Survivor host and executive producer Jeff Probst, and gaming company “Exploding Kittens.” According to a press release announcing the game, “It’s the ultimate battle of social strategy, with all the fun, drama, and excitement you expect from the longest-running reality competition show – without having to sleep in the jungle or endure bugs! To survive, players must collect advantages, find hidden immunity idols, form secret alliances, and face devastating blindsides, while surviving Tribal Council eliminations. The last two players standing must make a case about why they deserve the title of Sole Survivor!”
“When we set out to make a card game version of Survivor – we needed it to be an entertaining experience for both legacy fans and people who simply love playing games,” Probst said in a statement. “I knew the Exploding Kittens team was the perfect partner to form an alliance with to bring the game to life, and we hope people enjoy playing it as much as we enjoyed designing it.”
Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 47
To make the official card game, Probst worked alongside Co-Founder and CEO of Exploding Kittens Elan Lee. Lee, who work includes the popular titles “Throw Throw Burrito,” “You’ve Got Crabs,” and the titular “Exploding Games,” is a Day 1 fan of Survivor. He and Probst had built a relationship in recent years, with the showrunner occasionally using him for advice on game design and even a sounding board for some proposed twists and turns.
Ranging from three to six people, “Survivor The Tribe Has Spoken” has players stepping into the buff as one of the many memorable castaways from seasons past. The intention of the card game is the same as its on-island counterpart: Vote out your opponents at Tribal Council (with the card box even doubling as the iconic voting urn). Among the assorted cards in any player’s possible deck are Reward Challenges, which allow you to scheme with other players; “Sorry for You,” which blocks others from taking your cards; and the “Spy Shack,” where you can peek at another person’s hand and even steal a card. And it wouldn’t be a Survivor game without some twists, turns, and advantages, including “Immunity Idols” to save yourself from getting your metaphoric torch snuffed.
With months between the conclusion of Survivor 47 on Wednesday and the premiere of Season 48 in February, this off-season should be a perfect time to take the game quite literally into your own hands with a new card game. “Survivor The Tribe Has Spoken” is available to preorder now for $19.99, and will release on Amazon, Target, and Walmart.com on January 12.
Related: Jeff Probst Announces Returning Players for ‘Survivor’ Season 50
