Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game (2014)
(2014)Dead of Winter is a semi-cooperative story-driven game set during a harsh zombie apocalypse where players control a small, weakened colony of survivors. Players must work together to achieve a main objective and keep the colony alive, while simultaneously trying to accomplish secret individual objectives that may include betrayal.
Where to buy
Buying through these links supports BGV at no extra cost to you.
The Verdict
based on 25 reviews
The reviewer finds Dead of Winter to be an immersive, tense cooperative experience. The engaging narrative hooks and potential traitor mechanics create compelling tabletop drama despite occasional randomness.
The reviewer highlights Dead of Winter as a strong candidate among horror board games, praising its immersive, story-driven zombie apocalypse setting where players manage survivors, maintain morale, and tackle hidden objectives.
The reviewer examines Dead of Winter, praising its thematic integration, tense hidden-traitor mechanics, and engaging cooperative survival choices.
The reviewers praise Dead of Winter as a brilliant, story-driven psychological survival game where the real danger isn't just the zombies, but the paranoid tension and tough moral choices forced upon your fellow players.
The reviewer highlights Dead of Winter as a favorite thematic survival experience, praising the suspense driven by hidden objectives and potential betrayers within the colony.
The panel features the game within their collective countdown list, with individual reviewers highlighting its cooperative tension and thematic survival elements.
The reviewer highlights Dead of Winter as a thematic post-apocalyptic survival choice featuring hidden traitors and tense group dynamics, making it an engaging option for a spooky game night.
“Dead of Winter is, simply, fantastic. This is cooperative gaming at its best and possibly the best use of the zombie theme since The Walking Dead comic began.”
“I can’t reiterate this enough: Dead of Winter is a blast. I’d be shocked if it’s not in the conversation for board game of the year.”
“I really do recommend Dead of Winter to fans of zombie movies or shows, and to fans of board games that love to have a laugh with friends.”
“If you've been considering Dead of Winter, I think it's absolutely worth your time. It's a zombie game that isn't actually about the zombies. It's at once soul-crushingly oppressive and unexpectedly funny.”
The reviewer examines Dead of Winter, praising its tense atmosphere, strong cooperative-yet-treacherous mechanics, and immersive crossroad events that elevate it well above a standard zombie survival game.
Where to buy
Buying through these links supports BGV at no extra cost to you.
Similar games
Lists to explore
View all top lists
Top 25Top 25 Best Horror Board Games 2026
Monsters, madness and things that go bump in the night: the top-rated horror games.
Top 25Best 4-Player Board Games, Ranked by Critics (2026)
Two couples, a family of four or your regular group: the critics' favourite games for a table of four.
RankedJamey Stegmaier board games, ranked
From Wingspan to Scythe — see how Jamey Stegmaier's games stack up.
Top 25The 25 best card games
Their components fits nicely in the palm of hands yet the possibilities are endless.