Published by: Smirk & Dagger Games
# of Players: 6 to 12 Players


Dead Last brings a new take on player elimination type games like Mafia. The goal in Dead Last is to be the first 25 gold. Each round 4 gold cards will be placed face down in the middle of the table. Each gold card has a value of 3 to 5. Each player will have color cards representing the other players and an ambush card. During a round players will be deciding who to eliminate from the round. Players can use any means to try to communicate to other players to help pick a target. You may quickly show the color of the person you want eliminated or point under the table. Some will text others or bring up a reference to hint at color to eliminate. Once everyone has put down a card with their target, they will all be revealed at the same time and person with the most cards is eliminated.
If you think that is it, you are sadly mistaken. Anyone who did not vote with the majority is also eliminated. If the person who was picked to be eliminated played the ambush card, that person will pick one of the people who voted for him to be eliminated instead. If there is a tie vote, both players are eliminated. If it gets down to 2 people, a final showdown will happen. Each player will receive 3 cards (Share, Steal, Grab one & Go). If both players choose to share, each will get 2 gold cards. If both players select steal, all other players get a gold card. If both pick Grab and Go, they will each get one card. If share and steal are played, the steal player will get all 4 cards, and if a steal is played with grab and go, the steal person gets 3 and grab person gets 1. Finally if grab and go is played with a share, the share person gets 3 and grab person gets 1. You may communicate to the other player about what card to play, but do you trust them? After the round you will refresh the gold row and everyone will be back in the game to start a new round. After a round, if a player has 25 or more gold, they win the game.

I am usually very iffy on player elimination games that have players vote people out of the game. Dead Last is the exception. I really had a blast trying to hint to my friends on who to take out and all the trash talk that came with it. People had a good time trying to hint to other players and the crazy ways people tried to express who they voted for. Some would not vote for their significant other, while others stabbed them in the back fast. Each player has a standee that shows their color and has a Pulp Fiction type look to it. The game is very solid and does not take long to play. This is a game that you always want to vote with the popular kids. I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys social games. If you are a person who doesn't like being eliminated from games or rely on reading people, this may not be for you. I will be keeping this in my collection as my social game.
Pros:
+ Social collusion that allows any form of hinting
+Each round plays quick so no one is out for long
+ Easy to teach to other players
Cons:
- Not for those who do not like social games
- Can get confusing on who gets eliminated when ties and ambushes are played at same time